Belfast Giants honour legendary head coach Adam Keefe with jersey retirement at testimonial
It is the highest honour that can be bestowed in hockey and a wholly deserved one for Keefe, the team's most successful coach and an individual who is described as the "heartbeat" of the organisation.
And now nobody will ever wear the No.47 jersey ever again as, after a heartfelt speech by Giants chairman Robert Fitzpatrick, the banner was lofted above the West End net where it will forever stay.
The jersey raising ceremony was followed by the testimonial, which took the form of a round-robin tournament between former team-mates and players that Keefe has coached split into four teams named after Keefe's former teams.
Current Belfast stars such as captain Mark Cooper, David Goodwin, Ben Lake and Jackson Whistle all featured, while fellow retired jerseys Rob Stewart, Colin Shields and Graeme Walton also took part, with Todd Kelman and Shane Johnson taking their place as coaches alongside Sheldon Keefe.
Joining the organisation in 2011 as a hard-nosed forward and quickly establishing himself as captain in only his second season in Belfast, Keefe would win two Elite League titles with the Giants as a player but it is as coach that his legacy has been taken to another level.
In his seven seasons in charge, Keefe has delivered ten trophies to the Giants out of a possible 19, including the Grand Slam in 2023 as his all-conquering side swept all before them to secure League, Challenge Cup and Play-Off glory.
Last season the Brampton, Ontario native led the Giants to their fourth League title under his stewardship, winning a dramatic final day race to clinch the crown, as well as a fifth Cup, and is now preparing to take the team into the Champions League for the fourth time next season.
Not just the team's coach, Keefe has now built his life in Northern Ireland having married wife Colleen, with the couple welcoming their first daughter Cora in 2021, with Tara following in 2023.
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