For Tim Gettinger, the first few weeks in Sheffield have been about adjustment.
A new country. A new league. New teammates. A new system.
And, after a summer spent training away from competitive action, finally getting back into proper game situations.
The former New York Rangers forward got his first taste of Steelers hockey over the opening weekend and admitted that, no matter how much work is done in the gym or on the practice ice, there is no substitute for playing games.
“It had been a while since I’d played a game and that was probably the same for quite a few of the guys,” said Gettinger.
“So it was good to finally get some game action.
“Cardiff had been playing a little bit longer than we had, so it was a really good test for us.
“You can do all the practising, all the work in the gym and prepare as much as you want, but nothing is quite the same as being in game shape.”
That was always going to make the opening weekend a demanding one.
With only a handful of practices together before playing back-to-back games, Gettinger knew the Steelers would be learning on the job.
“We knew it was going to be a tough weekend for us in terms of getting our legs going,” he continued.
“But I thought we battled hard in both games.
“Now it’s about getting back to practice, getting more game reps and continuing to build our game shape as we move forward.”
A Warm Welcome to Sheffield
Away from the ice, Gettinger could hardly have been more positive about his first impressions of Sheffield and the Steelers organisation.
“Everything has been awesome since I got here from day one,” he said.
“We’ve got a really good group of guys and everyone on the staff has been great.
“Everybody has made me feel really welcome and that makes such a difference when you’re coming into a new team and a new place.”
And then came his first experience of a Steelers home game.
Gettinger had been told plenty about the Orange Army before arriving in Sheffield.
He had heard about the crowds, the Arena and the atmosphere.
On opening night, he finally experienced it for himself.
“It was awesome,” he said.
“It was really nice to get out there in front of the fans for the first time.
“I obviously knew it was going to be a good crowd, but when we actually went out there it was even better than I expected.”
Nearly 8,000 supporters for an exhibition game certainly gave the 6’6″ forward an early indication of what nights at the Utilita Arena are going to be like.
And, with the competitive season still ahead, there should be plenty more big occasions to come.
Getting to Know the Finns
The other important part of these early weeks is finding chemistry.
Gettinger has spent time down the middle alongside two of the Steelers’ Finnish forwards and believes the combination is already beginning to show promise.
“They’re quick, they’re smart with the puck and they make plays,” he explained.
“It’s still early and we’ve only really had a few practices together, but getting those game reps helps a lot.
“I thought as the weekend went on we became more and more comfortable with each other, finding each other and making plays.
“That chemistry is only going to grow over time, but for the first two games I thought it was good.”
Gettinger also knows exactly what he needs to bring to that combination.
At 6’6″, he offers a very different dimension to two quick, creative linemates.
“For me, playing down the middle, it’s about being smart for them,” he said.
“They’re two very skilled players who can make plays, so my job is to get in on the forecheck, get the puck to them and then get myself to the net.
“Defensively, I want to be that anchor for the line as well and make sure I’m always back there to help them out.
“At the end of the day, they’re great players. They’ll find me and I’ll get to the net.”
It is still early days.
There are systems to learn, combinations to develop and plenty of hockey still to be played before Aaron Fox’s new-look Steelers reach their full potential.
But Gettinger has already had his first taste of Sheffield, his first games in Orange and his first experience of the Arena crowd.
So far, he likes what he sees.
Tim Gettinger is settling in nicely — and his Steelers story is only just beginning.