The Giants lifted the Playoff crown for 2003 with a superb win over the London Knights. The Knights just wouldn’t go away and kept up the pressure on the Giants the whole game long as the Giants kept taking the league only to see the knights bring it back each time keeping the fans very nervous and on the edge of their seats.

It wasn’t until 59:13 when Dave Matsos slotted in the empty net goal that the fans could really celebrate and celebrate they did singing and dancing and drinking into the night. 
The atmosphere was electric in the Giants section as the crowd went wild all night and some pictures will be up in the photo section soon.

The Giants got a great lead with an early goal through Kory Karlander who finished a great wrap around goal and they kept the lead through until the second period when the Knights pulled one back only for the Giants to retake the league in the final minute of the second period through a rocket shot from Shane Johnson on a 4 on 2 breakaway.

The third period seen most of the goals as both teams went for the win. It was the Giants who doubled their gap in the lead with another rocket shot from Shane Johnson after a layoff from captain Paul Kruse. Shane now had two goals in the game after not registering a goal the whole playoff champagne.

London kept coming at the Giants and pulled it back a one goal deficit on two occasions, this time and then again after Ryan Kuwabara had scored, but as London pulled their netminder it seemed like their timing was off as Kuwabara shot the puck down the ice only to hit the post. Robby Sandrock then had an empty net chance blocked but Dave Matsos made it third attempt lucky as he pushed it in for the win.

It was a superb game of hockey and was great to see Paul Kruse lift the trophy again as the team skated it one by one over to the giants fans. The trophy was then passed into the crowd as some fans got the chance to lift the trophy up.

A great game and great win, great weekend and great celebrations. A great team the 2003 playoff champions the Belfast Giants.

Box Score:

Giants 5, Knights 3

1st Period
1. Belfast, K.Karlander 12 (T.Kelman), 00:47

2nd Period
2. London, R.Bronilla, 23:28
3. Belfast, S.Johnson 1 (R.Stevens, L.Sorochan), 39:15

3rd Period
4. Belfast, S.Johnson 2 (K.Karlander, P.Kruse), 43:41
5. London, S.Aronson (J.Hoad), 48:49
6. Belfast, R.Kuwabara 13 (R.Stevens, S.Thornton), 51:19 (PP)
7. London, E.Patterson (J.Hoad), 54:28
8. Belfast, D.Matsos, 59:13 (EN)

Att. 6285

Shots:
Belfast - 22
London - 20

Powerplay:
Belfast - 1-6
London - 0-3

Man of the Match:
Belfast - Shane Johnson
London - Steve Aronson

Giants Line-up:

Rod Stevens - Steve Thornton - Ryan Kuwabara
Paul Kruse - Kory Karlander - David Matsos
Paxton Schulte - Kevin Riehl - Colin Ward
Doug Macdonald - __________ - Curtis Bowen

Robby Sandrock - Lee Sorochan
Todd Kelman - Shane Johnson
Rob Stewart

Powerplay 1: Riehl - Karlander - Schulte - Stewart - Sandrock
Powerplay 2: Stevens - Thornton - Kuwabara - Johnson - Kelman

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