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 »

Remember Steve Thornton? If you only remember Elite League hockey then you wont remember this guy. That is unless you follow the Bison. No, Stevie Thornton was a player who played 3/4 of a season for the Giants in the 2002-2003 season. He helped us to 6th place in Lugano at the Continental Cup then returned with his team to push, and miss the league title by a single point. He the stepped up his game during an outstanding playoff run which eventually ended with our one and only playoff championship to date. MORE »