It's Almost Game-On Across The Pond (Talbot, Reiter, Smith)

The puck drops for real this coming weekend in Great Britain's Elite Ice Hockey League, where former Alaska Aces sniper Joe Talbot has thus far spent the preseason doing his thing, namely strafing goalies.

Talbot, who last season helped the Sheffield Steelers to the regular-season and playoff titles, in the last week bagged the late game winner in a 2-1 exhibition win over Aalborg (Denmark) and added one goal and one assist in a 5-2 defeat of EIHL Newcastle. This is Joe's third season with Sheffield, which begins its title defense Saturday.

Also playing for Sheffield is former UAA goaltender Kevin Reiter, who stopped 20 shots against Aalborg. The sixth-year pro played last season for EIHL Basingstoke.

And new to the circuit across the pond is former UAA defenseman Mark Smith, who hooked up with the Edinburgh Capitals (that's the former club of Aces winger Colin Hemingway). Smith played last season with the Rocky Mountain Rage of the Central Hockey League (4-13--17 in 43 games) and his rookie pro season with ECHL Charlotte.