The Giants new team will get their new season underway at home on Saturday 6th September against the Cardiff Devils. That was announced today when the fixture lists for 08-09 were released. Following the Devils game the Giants will go onto the road for a game in Edinburgh the following night in the Challenge Cup. The first month of the season for the Giants will consist of back-to-back Saturday/Sunday games at home and away. MORE »

There were two more positions to be filled and on Tuesday the Giants did just that. They brought back stalwart George Awada for a fifth season and new boy Malcolm Macmillan. It means the Giants have done the unthinkable and completed their entire roster for the coming season before the end of July. It means for the first time ever Giants fans can head off to the sunshine on their holidays knowing exactly what kinda team they are coming home too. The final signings also confirm that just six players who finished the season with the Giants last term will be returning this year, and that includes now third string goalie Adam Cree. MORE »

A lot of Giants signings this off season have came in pairs and this week is no different with the Giants announcing another pair of forwards to go to their already new-look line-up. Evan Cheverie and Paul Deniset (left) join a team that is going to look significently different to the one that left the ice last March. Cheverie, a 28 year-old forward from Canada has previous Elite League experience with Coventry in 05-06 and joins the team from Morzine in France while Deniset, a 27-year old centre, also from Canada, will be new to the Elite League coming in from Schwennigen ERC in the German 2nd division. MORE »

It is early July, but already the Giants have their defensive unit in place and contracts out to enough guys to almost complete a roster if they are signed. It is changed times in Belfast and gone are the day of scrambling at the last minute to put together a team. New coach Steve Thornton continues to impress us fans in the off-season with top end signings, the latest of which are a paid of defencemen, Mike Burgoyne and Tyler Howells.

Opting to go with a 5 man defensive unit this season, Thornton brings in Burgoyne and Howells to go along with Johnson, Phillips and Walton on the blueline. Both players will bring a scoring touch to the Giants back end as well as careers littered with honors. MORE »

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 »