Last year Carlyle entertained us all with his physical play and fighting ability. He proved himself to be one of, if not thee, toughest guy in the league and on a number of occasions beat down some of the leagues top fighter. The big man became a hit in the Odyssey and I for one recalled how much I loved it back in January. I know I wasn’t alone in hoping he would return this year, especially after his strong performance (one of few in the squad) during the short playoffs run.
The bad news now however is that he has signed for rivals Coventry Blaze and he will be hitting and fighting our new stars. MORE »
I have a little section on this site dedicated to the legends of the Belfast Giants. In order to be part of this exclusive group you have to be no longer playing for Belfast and you have to have been a star in your time here and a player people are going to really remember ten years down the line. The latest member — Ed Courtenay
Maybe I’m wrong but I believe all the ones on the list deserve to be there and I know I for sure will remember them ten years from now. Courtenay who spent his time here as player/coach, was never too far away from the top of the scoring charts in the league and was never to far away from the correct end of the table as a coach. Sure things started badly last season but Ed turned it around as the Giants gained — if anything — some respectability.
Anyway, that isn’t what Ed will be remembered for in his time in Belfast, it is more likely to be things like:
The Playmaking
The stick throwing
The League title
The Ed/Theo combo
The two playoff final four appearances
There’s no doubt Ed has left his footprints on the Giants history and that is why, now that he has moved on and retired, that he finds himself being added to the exclusive group. I put him in there — there really was no need for a vote.
If you do believe there is someone in there that doesn’t deserve to be there or there is someone missing from the list that should be there feel free to leave a comment. I cannot guarantee it will be taken into consideration however!!
It appears that veteran Giants blue liner Roman Gavalier is leaving town for pastures new. Roman has signed for MHK VTRJ Kezmarok in what I assume must be his homeland Slovakia. Gavalier will go down as one of the all-time best Giants defensemen and a true fan favorite. The Slovak joined the Giants in the 2004-2005 season before leaving to play the following year in Poland. He returned yet again in the 2006-2007 season where he played right through until this past season. MORE »
Some rumours flying around on the KotG forum are suggesting that Curtis Huppe has decided to call it a career. Like Rob Stewart and Jason Bowen before him he looks set to retire in Belfast as he is married to a local girl. Some Giants fans had hoped he would leave Coventry this summer to come back to Belfast to play some hockey for the Giants but that now doesn’t look likely. Who knows though after a summer off without hockey he may well be inticed back - if Stevie Thornton wants him that is. Theres no doubt Huppe still has a lot left to give to the game.
It didn’t take Troy Neumeier long to find employment elsewhere. He has gone from mid-table to top of the table after signing a short-term month long contract with the injury riddled Blaze this week. Speaking on his signing and his release from the Giants Troy admitted he was ‘Quite surprised to be let go’. He revealed that even with the Giants needing to release one player after getting to full health claimed ‘I really didn’t expect it to be me’.
Still he can take comfort in the fact that he’s now playing at the top of the league. Hopefully with the extra month of income he can take his time to find a new permanent role.
With the Sheffield Steelers that is. Having played six months for them last season it seems the Steelers are about to turn to one of our ex-stars yet again to help them out of an injury hole. According to the Steelers website Shane is willing to join up with the Steelers.
I’ve added a Giants legends page to the site with a handful of guys who have helped shaped the Belfast Giants over the past seven seasons. Some only played one year and others have played most of the last seven seasons but all have in their own way become part of the Giants fabric. Everyone will idintify with them, have memories of them and all are big fan favourites and characters in their own way.
Talking of ex-Giants and their possibly moves, it looks like last seasons top goal-scorer Jeff Hutchins is on his way out and will sign with the Newcastle Vipers. It’ll be a blow to the Giants scoring as Hutchins was prolific in front of goal last year. Having already lost sharp-shooter Curtis Huppe it’s been two blows to the forward lines in the off-season already and it makes Ed Courtenay’s job of finding a natural scorer to fill the final forward spot even more vital.
With two import spots left the Giants will be looking for one defenceman and one centerman before turning their attention to the final couple of British spots to be filled up.
We’re certainly well ahead of the game in player signings this off season. Who would have foreseen the day the Giants had a roster 90% complete in early July! It’s great.
Remember super Kory Karlander? He was a Giants hero from the inaugural season of the Giants and the playoff winning side of 2003? Well he appears to be on his way back to the UK. If reports in some newspapers this morning are to believed he’s on his way to Giants rivals Nottingham Panthers.
It’ll be a sour taste in the mouths of Giants fans to see an ex-star sign in Nottingham just as Rod Stevens did the season before but at 35 fans also wonder if Karlander still has the legs.
It’s not as though the Giants haven’t signed their fair share of mid-late 30-year old players though what with Gavallier, Ruff and Courtenay all set to play for the Giants and so it’s probably for the best that the Giants keep their attention turned towards a young speedy centerman this year.
Reports today are suggesting that ex-Giant Colin Shields has signed for the Newcastle Vipers. One of the best British born and trained players on the market, the Scotsman left the Giants at the end of the 05-06 season to go play in America in the ECHL but is returning to these shores. He would have been a nice pick-up to bolster our line-up with a quality Brit but then who knows what his wage demands may have been.
Remember Paxton Schulte? How on earth could you forget after, he was only the face of the franshise for four years and remains the teams most popular player of all time. Turns out, accoridng to the official website, that Paxton will be honoured on Friday, March 9th at the game against Newcastle. His number 27 jersey will be officially retired for good by the team and he will have it presented to him. He will be available to sign autographs and meet with the fans on the night.
Ex-Giants star Shane Johnson who played in Belfast for 6 seasons has signed with rivals Sheffield Steelers. Shane who was an original Giant was not re-signed by Courtenay this off season and so left Kelman as the last original Giant standing. He joined the Slough Jets of the EPL at the start of this season but when Sheffield came calling with a chance to get back in the Elite League Shane jumped at the chance. He’ll now be playing under coach Dave Matsos who was a team-mate of Shane’s for a couple of seasons in his Belfast days.
Currently there are 4 known ex-Giants players playing, 1 player coaching and 1 just bench coaching in the Elite League today. Some of these players will be very well known to you all and at least one of them, you probably wont even remember.. Giants-History.com takes a look at how these 7 guys are doing this season with their respective teams…
