Watching Giants GM and ex-player, Todd Kelman stand next to Bruins president and ex-legend Cam Neeley at the Bruins arena announcing this game seems somewhat surreal. When the Giants arrived in Belfast in 2000 a lot of people wrote the sport of as a novelty believing that the big crowds that came along to sell out the arena in the first few season would not last. But while the crowds are not quite at the sellout level they once where, they are still big and now, after ten seasons of hockey and 610 games, to see the Giants now only still playing and even winning (this years playoff champions), it is superb to see that they have grown to the stature that they can invite and host NHL calibre clubs to Belfast. I wouldn’t want to serve up humble pie to those non believers back in 2000 because it was understandable to believe it probably wouldn’t last this long, but I hope they are impressed with how well the team has done in the end.

My excitement quickly turned a tad sour when I remembered that I’m now in Canada. Eight bloody fantastic years of watching this team only to move away in time for them to host an NHL team. I’d love to get back to see it, but with a wedding to pay for next year, it isn’t going to happen. Still, I’m delighted for the team, the city, the country and the sport of hockey in not only Ireland but Britain. This kind of exposure at all levels can only be a good thing. No doubt people from Boston will tie the game in with a visit to Ireland, and the exposure the Giants will get on local TV will be better than ever before I can only suspect. The British league will get much needed exposure as well, especially if the game is televised in the Boston area.

No doubt the Bruins will walk away with the victory but talk is that the Giants will invite some of the best players in the EIHL to join them for the game to help boost the competitiveness of the game. Being that the game comes so close to the start of the Bruins season the camp roster will be well trimmed down to those likely to start the season with the Bruins and those still there trying out will be on their last chance to make it with the big club. Expect that to make it a strong line-up for those lucky enough to get a ticket and it’ll make for a very competitive game.

On the subject: Boston Bruins, Bruins in Belfast, NHL | ALL SUBJECTS |

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