The Giants have never paid this competition much attention in the previous few years but under a new coach, Steve Thornton the Giants have taken every game seriously this year and so find themselves still in the running for the two domestic trophies. Having already made the Challenge Cup Final the boys last night made it to the Knockout cup final with a 4-1 victory over the Cardiff Devils after drawing the first leg 3-3 in Dundonald ice-bowl.

After falling behind to an early Cardiff goal the Giants struck back with three straight goals and by the time the first period was half-done the Giants had a comfortable lead. The goals came from Colin Shields (2) and Mike Burgoyne and it proved to be the final scoring of the contest until a late empty net goal by Paul Deniset to seal the deal.

In the first leg a few nights ago in Dondonald it was Mike Burgoyne who was in fine form grabbing a pair of goals to put the Giants 2-1 ahead going into the third period. The game was soon level before Bobby Robins grabbed what looked to be a winner before the Devils came back with another tying goal setting up last nights contest as a ‘winner-takes-it-all’ match.

As I write this the Giants are in more cup action taking on Manchester in the first leg of the Challenge Cup Final. The Giants have never won this trophy and have only made the final on one occasion in a game against Ayr that everyone wants to forget.

On the subject: Cardiff Devils, Colin Shields, Knockout Cup, Mike Burgoyne | ALL SUBJECTS |

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