It appears the Giants official site is in the process of adding the complete fixture list for the season.  Click below to view them, I’ll add them to the site here when I next get the chance.

http://www.belfastgiants.com/app/FixtureList.asp

It will be interesting to see how the opening month pans out with so many back to back games through each weekend.

I certainly couldn’t be much happier with the two final import slots that Ed has filled today.  Returning for a second season is Shawn Skiehar who added the physical as well as defensive aspect to the Giants forward lines last year and joining him is an ex-team mate of his and a new player to the Giants line-up, defenseman, J.P. Morin.

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After sitting out of the challenge cup last season, for the first time in history, due to fixture congestion, the Giants will be back in the tournament this season it seems.  According to the Elite League the tournament takes a very odd shape this season seeing the 10 teams playing across 4 different groups.  Yes it doesn’t make much sense to me either but here’s how it looks…

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Today the EIHL released initial fixtures for the new season, giving the Giants first 7 home games.  As reported late last week, the fixtures where due for release on Monday past, however another delay has seen them set back until next week. 

On the next page is a list of the Giants first 7 home games of the season:
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The rumours have been there for a while now but as time went on I’m sure I wasn’t the only one starting to wonder what was taking so long, but finally it was announced today on belfastgiants.com that Mike Minard has re-signed with the Giants for the new season.

Mike is coming off the back of an excellent first season with the Giants in which he helped lead the team to the league championship and the playoff semi-finals.  He was one of the best goalies in the league throughout the season, a season that seen a league full of top netminders.  It will be the first time in the history of the team that they have retained their starting goalie for back to back seasons.

It’s the end of an era.

It’s one of them days you hope never comes along but you know will eventually arrive.  Yesterday, Jason Bowen, one of the last remaining original Giants players called it a day on his career.

It was a career that spanned from the junior leagues in Western Canada all the way up to the NHL via a first round draft pick with Philadelphia and eventually all the way here to Belfast where he played for 5 of the past 6 seasons.

He leaves only Todd Kelman now as the last remaining Giant from their first season back in 2000.

In the five of six seasons Bowsey played in Belfast (missing just one season in 02-03) the big man played 261 games for the team (good for 4th all-time), scoring 30 goals and 50 assists while picking up 627 penalty minutes (good for 2nd all-time).  It’s not the numbers however that he will be remembered for but more the big hits, the big games, and the entertainment value he brought to the game..  It’s what made him a fan favourite.

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Just a reminder to anyone unsure, the EIHL will be announcing the fixture list for the coming season on Monday 14th August.  Opening games are expected to take place on Saturday 9th September.

It seems like Shawn Skiehar is on the verge of signing a contract with the Giants.  Ski added the muscle to the Giants forward lines last season and ended up in 12 scraps in all, a record by any player in one season in the Giants history.  With a skillful attacking team already lined up, adding a player with power and defensive abilities to the forward lines was essential and who better than with Shawn Skiehar.

Watch this space…

Ex-Giants centerman Kory Karlander has dispelled any rumours he might have been returning to the British game by signing for the Kalamazoo Wings of the United Hockey League.

<Read More Here>

As rumoured a few weeks ago Shane Johnson will not return to the Giants as he moves to the EPL (English Premier League) to play his hockey for the Slough Jets.  It’s a big step down for a terrific player but it’s clear he was not in Ed Courtenay’s plans for the upcoming season.  Still a huge “thanks for the good times” shout must go out to Shane who played for 6 great seasons in Belfast playing 332 games, second only to Todd Kelman.

Click below to see the official Slough Jets release:

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Remember Matt Reid?  Of course you do, he was the guy that played in a temp role for the Giants last season while the team waited on the arrival of Theo Fleury.  And he did a dam good job at that.  So much so that fans hoped he would possibly return for next season, however that ain’t happening now.  Matt has re-signed for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.

<Read more here>

‘Rocket’ Rod Stevens is back in the British game but not with the Giants.  The Canadian forward has signed a one year deal with the Nottingham Panthers.  Giants fans will fondly remember Stevens for his three great years in Belfast between 2000 and 2003.  In his time at Belfast the ‘Rocket’ picked up 132 points in 176 games.

Captain George Awada is back in town for a third season with the Giants along with Marc Levers. Both where brought in three years ago by Tony Hand and both today have re-signed for another year under Ed Courtenay. Awada who captained the team to the league title last year will likely go into his second season as captain, only the second man to captain the Giants in back to back seasons, the other being Jeff Hoad. Marc Levers finished off an excellent season where he seen a lot of time playing in the second line center spot and no doubt will see even more ice time this coming season.