Belfast Giants confirm return of most successful coach for eighth season behind bench

Belfast Telegraph

19 hours ago

The 41-year-old, who only five days ago saw his No.47 jersey retired by the Giants during his testimonial game, has agreed a new one-year deal covering the 2025/26 campaign to remain head coach.
It is a logical move for both parties, Keefe continuing his association with the club into its 15th year as a player and coach, while the Giants have the man who has delivered ten trophies in seven seasons back leading them again.
Nor was it much of a surprise, the Ontario native tipping his hand significantly by not only taking part in the Champions League draw for next season but declaring after his testimonial that he couldn't wait to get the new campaign under way, while he has repeatedly declared that it would only take a substantial offer or an unmissable opportunity for him to seek employment outside of Belfast.
It is also expected that Keefe will have his three lieutenants, George Awada, Jeff Mason and Rob Stewart, alongside him for the new season as well, however that is yet to be confirmed.
But Keefe is the key piece behind the bench and, although they are yet to officially announce a player for the new season, having the four-time Elite League Coach of the Year back in situ is already an excellent starting point.
A born winner, Keefe has won at least one trophy in five of his seven seasons with the Giants – including the 2019/20 season that was halted prematurely due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic – including the Grand Slam in the 2022/23 campaign.
The former Giants captain, who won two Elite League titles as a player, has lifted the League crown four times since taking over in 2017, as well as five Challenge Cups and one Play-Off title, while he has also taken the organisation to three further Play-Off Finals.
Keefe burst onto the scene as a coach by winning the Challenge Cup in his first season in charge, defeating the Cardiff Devils in the Final at Ice Arena Wales, and then had an outstanding sophomore season in 2018/19 by missing out on the Grand Slam by one game, defeating the Guildford Flames in the Cup Final and famously winning the League while celebrating their end-of-season awards dinner, only to lose to the Devils in the Play-Off Final.
Since the pandemic, the Giants have dominated the Elite League under Keefe by winning seven of the 12 trophies on offer, once again missing out on the Grand Slam by a game in 2022 after losing the Play-Off Final to the Devils having already done the League and Cup double again, before finally completing the clean sweep a season later, this time defeating the Devils in the final game of the season to add to another League and Cup success.
After watching the Sheffield Steelers do the same two seasons ago, the Giants returned to their perch last season with a phenomenal League win that went down to the final game of the season, added to their Cup joy against the Devils back in March, although the Welsh side would have the last laugh by winning their Play-Off Semi-Final this time around.
Keefe will also lead the Giants in the Champions League for the fourth time this season, their reward for winning the League title, with the organisation determined to be involved in the Play-Offs having missed out on the knockouts by a point two years ago.