On Wednesday evening, Tornado Luxembourg cruised to an 11-1 victory over the Beaufort Knights in the Luxembourg Hockey League (LHL). While the scoreline may suggest a one-sided affair, team captain Colm Cannon provided a thoughtful perspective on the game, recognizing both Tornado’s dominance and Beaufort’s progress.

"I think it was a good game for Tornado, definitely," said Cannon. "But Beaufort played pretty well too. They’ve made great progress, especially in terms of their team structure." He also praised Beaufort’s junior players, noting their development as a positive sign for Luxembourg’s national team future.

The game started with Tornado struggling to find their rhythm. "Our first period wasn’t ideal. We didn’t play great, and that was probably because Beaufort put a bit more pressure on us," Cannon admitted. Despite this, Tornado’s defensive efforts, particularly from veteran goaltender Phil Lepage, kept Beaufort at bay. Cannon highlighted Lepage’s crucial saves in the opening period, including two or three key breakaways.

As the game progressed, Tornado’s depth and speed began to show. With Tornado skating 15 players to Beaufort’s 10, the gaps widened, and Tornado capitalized. "Once we started moving the puck and skating better, it became very much a one-sided game," Cannon observed.

He also gave credit to Beaufort’s young talent, singling out Szymon Mazurek for a strong performance: "The goalie played really, really well. The young number 11, Szymon Mazurek, I think he played very well."

While Tornado dominated the scoreboard, Cannon was respectful of Beaufort’s efforts: "It’s not to discourage the progress that Beaufort has made. It was nice to see the strides they’ve taken."

For Tornado fans, the game was both fun and promising. The team showed flashes of brilliance while recognizing areas for improvement. As always, Tornado’s respect for their opponents and focus on developing hockey in Luxembourg were on full display.

Next up, Tornado will aim to carry this momentum forward in their upcoming games in France Division 2. Stay tuned for more action from your favorite team!