"I only arrived in England less than two weeks ago and I'm amazed at the beautiful city of Newcastle.

I've never been in England before and I love it. Everybody is so friendly and it seems like people take time to enjoy life.

My biggest culture shock so far came on Sunday when I went into a pub to watch the Newcastle and Manchester United match. I couldn't believe the atmosphere - no sport in North America would generate that much passion.

I was soon screaming my lungs out, cheering for the 'Toon Army'.

Regarding the Jesters, things are looking really good, I've never seen so much talent on an ice surface. One guy particularly impressed me this week, Tero Arkiomaa, a strong Finn with blazing speed and a great shot.

Another guy with an impressive resume is Miroslav Mosnar, a Slovak defender who went to the Nagano Olympics in 1998. This guy will probably be one of the best defenders in our league.

On Friday, we face the Sheffield Steelers, a team I've heard is very solid every year so it will be a good test for us. On Saturday we play the Manchester Storm, a team I am really looking forward to it. The team coach is Terry Christiansen who coached me for two years along with team-mates Darren McAusland and Matt Oates last season.

To conclude, I would like to let you know what to expect from me. I've always been known for my workman ethic and won't change. I will try to put on a good show.''