With the recent arrival of his new baby Paul Sample, 27 has decided to call it a career in hockey and get out into the real world to earn a steady living. Good luck to him and thanks for the service in 03/04 and 08/09.

The Giants will be without four key players this weekend as Paul Sample and Andrew Martin join Bobby Robins and Paul Deniset in the treatment room. The Giants hit the road to face Cardiff Devils tonight and then a top of the table clash with Sheffield tomorrow. It is going to take one heck of an effort just to get points out of the weekend never mind all four. I don’t really like the term ‘key’ players because at this level were benches are short enough as it is and imports are limited and ice time high then every player is key. Playing without four them them is a nightmare.

People are going to wonder what is wrong; Did we sign injury prone players, is it just severe bad luck or is it the fact that there are so many games with the short benches and players playing big minutes which takes its toll on the body? I tend to wonder if it is the latter because we aren’t the only team in the league having problems with injuries. As import levels go down, the ice time and responsibility on the imports signed goes up.

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I’m sorry for being extremely boring lately and only reporting the signings we are making – about 2 days after everyone has already heard about it from The Snow Plough anyway – but the beautiful early summer weather has been keeping me outdoors more often than in and when I am in it is all about the N.H.L. playoffs.

So yeah, you wont be suprised to hear that I am blogging to write about the latest signing the Giants have made. This one excites me though and I think it is one of the best Brit signings we have made in quite a while. Welcome back Paul Sample. Read More»

I was so happy to hear the news that Killer Kelman was back with the Giants for 7th straight season. Our all-time leader in games played was one of the first guys I would want back on my team after last season. He’s undoubtably the best offensive defenceman in the league right now and has been for the past three years, continually putting up big numbers from the blue-line. Along with Dutiaume and Ruff up forward and now Kelman in defence we’re certainly taking the early steps to building something special here in Belfast for 06-07.
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In other news, the Cardiff Devils have been active this week with the signings of Paul Sample who played for the Giants in 03-04 and last season with Sheffield as well as Dion Darling who played last season in Nottingham.

A night after a great victory over London the Giants travelled to Sheffield to take on the reigning champions the Sheffield Steelers but they could not put together the scoring form they have had of late as they got shut out by the Steelers on their way to a 1-0 victory. Man of the match for the Giants Martin Kelmpa in goals faced 23 shots making 22 saves with a late third period goal by ex-Giant Paul Sample being the only difference between the two teams.

The Giants shouldn’t be too disheartened by the loss and the shout as their form of late in front of goal has been superb.

Sheffield Steelers 1-0 Belfast Giants

Steelers: Sample 57:22.
Giants: None.
(House of Steel, Sheffield).

Lines:
Johnson – C.Bowen – Awada
Huppe – Hand – Nasval
Morrison – Kelly – Levers

J.Bowen – Kelman
Angelstad – Gavalier
Walton