If you haven’t heard by now then where have you been?  If you missed it in the game report then I’ll put it again here.  In last night’s game Jason Ruff put in a hat trick performance and added an assist.  His second point of the night, his first goal of the game was his 200th as a Belfast Giants player.  Ruff earlier in the year became the Giants all-time highest points scorer to confirm his status among the fans as the Giants greatest players and last night he just confirmed it.  Only Todd Kelman who is still playing could come close to that 200 point mark but he has since announced he will retire at the end of the season.

Jason Ruff joined the Giants for the 2001-2002 season but this year was the first time he has played back-to-back seasons with the team having elected to play elsewhere in 02-03 and 04-05.  Last season Ruff would likely have passed these milestones but his season was cut short in December with a muscle injury that ended his season and almost his career.

He was told to pack it in but a good summer had him feeling better and having the hunger to play again.  Ed Courtenay coaxed him back this year to extend his career for another season and another chance to play hockey in from of the Belfast fans was to much for Ruff to turn down. 

Although Ruff has slowed down a lot, partly due to age (he’s — years old), but mainly due to the ruminants of last seasons injury that has him icing his leg after games from time to time still, he remains the top points scorer for the Giants this season and the top points scorer in the Elite League with 25 points in 17 games.  At 36 this just shows what a class act he is to remain the leagues best player.  Did I mention he has also scored a league best and remarkable 14 goals in 17 games.

We applauded you Jason Ruff, you’re the franchise player for the Giants and the greatest we’ve seen.  Congratulations on your 200th point.

Category: Milestones » » |

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