Following on from the addition to the players to have wore the different jersey numbers in team history being added to the site I thought I’d give my opinion on who the best was to wear each number.  Of course in some numbers there was only one guy to have worn the jersey and in the #27 jersey’s case there wont be anyone that will ever wear that jersey again.  Anyway, it’s a matter of opinion so feel free to disagree but it’s just a little off season fun while we’re waiting on the final player signings.  MORE »

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.

View the Legends

The Gaints 8th season schedule has been released at noon today and it has the Giants opening their season against Edinburgh Capitals on Saturday 8th September at the Odyssey Arena with a game the following night in Cardiff.  It’s taken a little time to get the schedules sorted but it looks to have been worth the wait as GM Todd Kelman has looked to spread out the games as much as possible to cut down on them three games in four night events and keep the players as fresh as possible.  Just one of the benefits of having a hockey man in charge of things. 

Some other games of note include the four games to be held in Dundalk.  They will be against Hull on October 6th, Manchester on October 27th, Edinburgh on January 26th and Basingstoke on March 22nd.

The very popular double header weekend game in Edinburgh will take place on the 8th and 9th December.

Full Schedule available on this site shortly.

The search has been going on for the last number of weeks with different players being touted to become the Giants new top centerman and finally Ed has found his man; Scott Cameron.  Scott joins the Giants from the German leagues were he played for Bremerhaven.  Previously his career has been spent in the AHL and ECHL leagues.  He brings an all round game to the team and the much needed speed the Giants are looking for in their forward lines.  A playmaker he has all the tools to be one of the best scoreres in the league and with guys like Jason Ruff and Ed Courtenay on his wings you wouldn’t bet against it.

All that remains now for the Giants is one more import defenceman which we all hope will be the return of J.P. Morin and another British player.  It’s definately odd having a roster almost complete by the end of July.  What happened to them days when we still didn’t have a coach by this time in the summer?

Today the Giants announced that four home games would be played out of the new arena in Dundalk.  Todd Kelman has made the move to save on money that would be lost by playing the games mid-week in the Odyssey.  In Dundalk the games will be Saturday night game.  Due to the Odyssey being booked up by other events the Giants were struggling to spread out their fixtures and to save a cram of games at one stage of the season and then a month of no home games at another the decision was taken to move a few midweek games to weekend games in Dundalk.  It’s far to say the decision was met with mixed reactions.  MORE »

Ever wondered what one player thinks of hocey in the UK?  This article has been doing the rounds on the hockey message boards this week and makes for interesting reading. It involves Bison forward Steve Bergin . . . Make of it what you will.

Source: naplesnews.com
By Angela Busch

Kevin Bergin couldn’t imagine it either, just one year ago. The Montreal native had spent five journeyman years in the ECHL with nine different teams. In Florida in ‘05-06, he led the team in goals and, according to him, fights. He said it was his best year of hockey ever.

“I didn’t get a sniff of going to the AHL; that’s when I realized it,” Bergin said. “After talking with Gerry, I felt the best thing for my future was to go over to Europe. It can’t go any further than it went for me in the ECHL.”

MORE »

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.

Hugh Smyth has finally landed himself a full-time Giants contract.  Having previously sported short spells as fill-in back up when the Giants have been short he must have been wondering if he would ever catch on with his home town team.  However, after a short spell at the tail end of last season when Kevin Kelly left suddenly he impressed enough for Ed Courtenay to sign him on even before the annual open tryouts.

Hugh will play backup to Philippe DeRouville.