IT WAS really tough not being part of the team last weekend and I think that any self-respecting professional would feel down about not being able to contribute.

Team managements expect people to be out injured at times in the season but they’re not expecting people to be suspended, and when that’s you, you feel a little bit responsible for team performances because you couldn’t play.

Our team doesn’t have a big line-up and we’ve been playing short-handed for pretty much the whole season because of the number of bodies that we’ve got out injured, so losing another player is a devastating blow going forward.

It’s tough and it’s frustrating not to be playing because you feel helpless.

I still travelled with the team last weekend and when you’re not playing, it seems as if the games go on three times longer.

We found it hard on Saturday against Sheffield but got through it, and on Sunday, we just didn’t have enough to win at Bracknell.

One thing about having to watch is that you get to see the game from a different angle than when you’re down at ice pad level, and I noticed a few things that I’d like to try and implement when I come back on Sunday.

I think that I just realised how much more time you have on the puck than you realise, and that you should take your time rather than giving it away so quickly. My goal will be to try and hold on to the puck longer.

I was also texting some of the guys in the period breaks to offer advice to some of the ones that wanted it – it was all about trying to help out as much as I possibly can because you want to be involved.

I think penalties did cost us a little bit against Bracknell but let’s just say that some of the refereeing calls were a little questionable.

You can’t control the referees, though. What you can control is your own discipline, so we’ll make sure that we get that right.

It’s a shame that I won’t be able to play against Milton Keynes on Saturday because you always raise your level against the big teams.

But I’ll be back on Sunday and hopefully, I’ll have a spring in my step.