The Dundonald Ice Bowl, a hockey mecca and the oldest standing hockey area in the Northern Hemisphere is set to hold two Giants games, the biggest games the building will have ever hosted. Prior to this one it was an open practice session scrimmage of the 2005 Belfast Giants and before that a game between the Castlereagh Knights and some other local rec team. The Giants had previously been scheduled to play the two cup games against rivals Coventry in Dundalk, but fan pressure has convinced the team to move the fixture to Dundonald.

You might be wondering why the game isn’t being played in the Odyssey but the simple reason is the Giants didn’t think they would get this far in the Challenge Cup — its almost uncharted territory in the post-war hockey era — and well they just shocked us all by entering the Micky Mouse Knockout cup at all. So with that in mind and the Odyssey being booked up at this time of year they had to look elsewhere.

Dundalk had been a favourite holiday destination of the Giants last season for a number of games but it didn’t sit easy with some fans and when a 2000 strong protest with placards and pitchforks took place outside Todd Kelman’s office last night it persuaded him to move the fixture to the state of the art rink in Dundonald.

Some people are worried there will not be enough seats to go around in Dundonald but there are rumours the building is talking about adding seating to bring the capacity up to 150. Come early and come with sharp elbows because standing room will be at a premium.

Coventry will be the team lucky enough to grace the hallowed ice of Dundonald against the Giants. Coventry you will know are one of the Giants biggest rivals. I honestly can say I never thought I would see the day the Giants not only played in Dundonald but played a team the size of Coventry there. Never say never I suppose, there is even talk of a rival rink in Coleraine in the coming years.

On the subject: Challenge Cup, Coventry Blaze, Dundonald Ice Bowl, Knockout Cup | ALL SUBJECTS |

............................................................................................................................................................................