Half an hour before the arena doors opened in Coventry, the advance guard of travelling Latvian fans was assembling.
With a pounding of a bass drum and a blare of klaxons they were ready to kick off the party in the English evening.
In the arena, the announcer promised “2,000-plus bonkers Dinamo Riga fans” and the maroon-clad army did not disappoint.
Roaring the team forwards from the puck drop, and howling at the officials for any hint of a penalty, it was an atmosphere as raucous as greeted the Brits last time they played Latvian opposition in Riga during qualification for the Sochi Olympics.
GB beat Riga 3-1 last night in the Skydome. Click to read more about the night from a KHL media perspective.
Photo credit: Dean Woolley.