The Bespoke Guardians Swindon Wildcats captain Sam Bullas last weekend reached yet another milestone in Swindon Wildcats history by icing in his 600th Wildcats game, our press officer Ben Callaghan sat down with Bully to talk about his 600 games for the Wildcats so far.
BC: Bully first of all, a four-point weekend the team must be buzzing?
SB: Obviously to get a four-point weekend is huge and that’s our first one of the season. I think it’s been coming over the last couple of weeks and it’s come at a good time for us. Saturday was a game under different circumstances but we still had to be professional to get the points on the board, I thought we did that and it set us up nicely for a really good team display on Sunday in Slough.
Speaking of Sunday, how did it feel skating out in your 600th game?
It felt brilliant to play in my 600th Swindon game. Everyone knows how much I love Swindon and it really is my second home. Whilst it was a brilliant feeling to reach that milestone we were all focussed on the two points available and getting those was the most important thing. Thankfully when I look back on my career once I do finish playing, I’ll be able to remember my 600th as a really strong road win!
Are there are any games which stand out over your 600?
Yeah, there are a few strong memories I have. The feeling we had when Aaron told us we’d won the league in the dressing room will always live with me, we didn’t anticipate it happening like that but skating out as league champions was incredible. For me though, the Autumn Cup win against Basingstoke will always be a special moment, to finally win my first trophy in Swindon was amazing and I hope the team and I can do the same this year!
Speaking of the Autumn Cup, just the small matter of a Semi-Final against Telford on Thursday?
Yeah! The boys are really up for this one. Telford have had our number over the last couple of years and we want to progress into another final. As I said just now, the Autumn Cup is special to a few of us and we want to repeat that this year. Games with Telford are always close and I don’t expect this one to be any different. We need to remember it’s a 6-period game of hockey and take it a shift at a time. If we can do that, and play as a unit across the ice then there is no reason we can’t progress through to the final.
You’re going to need the fans behind you on Thursday then?
We always need the fans behind us! Over the years the Wildcats fans have got louder and louder and I’m sure Thursday night will be no different. The way the Cats fans turn out in their thousands at home and continue to follow us as they do on the road is incredible. We’re all so appreciative of the support they give us and I have no doubt they’ll be behind us again on Thursday night against Telford.
