Belfast Giants 3-1 Manchester Phoenix (6-5 on agg.)
Tuesday 17 March 2009, Challenge Cup Final 2nd Leg, Dundonald Ice Bowl, Belfast.
The Giants win the Challenge Cup for the first time in their history.
Scoring:
1-0 BEL, Deniset (Burgoyne, Martin) 6:42 (pp)
2-0 BEL, Thornton (Shields) 16:26
2-1 MAN, 2-1 Hand (Clouthier) 33:54
3-1 BEL, Burgoyne (Unassisted) 55:53 (sh)
Penalty Minutes:
Belfast: Cheverie 2, Robins 2, Phillips 4, Burgoyne 2, Sample 2, Howells 4.
Manchester: Dunn 2, Ward 2, Clouthier 2, Beauregard 2, Ward 2, Mulherin 12.
Shots on Goal: Belfast 11 15 17 – 43, Manchester 9 11 15 – 35.
Powerplay: Belfast 1-4, Manchester 0-6.
Man of the Match: BEL – Mike Burgoyne. MAN – Tony Hand.
Referee: N Boniface.
Giants line-up: Lyle, Johnson, MacMillan, Cheverie, Deniset, Phillips, Thornton, Walton, Shields, Morrison, Martin, Burgoyne, Robbins, Rushton, Awada, Sample, Howells, Craze.
Notes:
— Giants first ever challenge cup win.
Media Report:
Belfast Giants won the first cup competition of the season after their comeback from the one goal deficit in the first leg. It was also fitting that they won it on St Patrick’s Day to make it a double celebration. They also became the fourth team in four seasons to have their name on the trophy.
This win will give Belfast the psychological advantage as the same two teams will compete in the British Knockout Cup final, with the first leg at Manchester on Sunday and the return next Thursday in Belfast.
After the opening period Belfast had turned the advantage in their favour with two strikes in the opening twenty minutes. The Giants went one up on the night at 6.42 as Paul Deniset (38th of the season) netted on the powerplay. Player/coach Steve Thornton (16th) doubled the Giants lead at 16.26 to give them the lead for the first time in the tie with a one goal advantage on aggregate.
The second period saw Phoenix with a couple of early powerplay opportunities, but the Giants held firm and killed both of them off. The visitors did however get back into the game as player/coach Tony Hand (20th) pulled a goal back at 33.54 to trail by one on the night but level on aggregate.
Going into the third period it was all to play for, although Belfast were leading on the night the game over the two legs was tied at five apiece. Things remained tight throughout the period and with the game heading towards overtime Mike Burgoyne,left, (17th) netted with a shorthanded goal at 55.53 to give Belfast their first trophy in three years.
