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Belfast Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast Giants to retire Adam Keefe's #47 jersey: ‘I am truly humbled'
At his testimonial game on Sunday, recognising 14 years of remarkable service to the organisation as a player and a coach, the Giants legend will become only the eighth player in club history to see his jersey raised to the rafters, never to be worn again by another player. 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. Commenting on the retirement of his 47 jersey, Adam Keefe said: 'It's hard to put into words what this means to me. Belfast has become my home, and the Giants have been my life for over a decade. To see my jersey raised to the rafters, in front of my family and friends, and our incredible fans who have supported me all these years before my testimonial, will be truly humbling. I'm very honoured and proud.' 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. And on Sunday he will be honoured not just with the jersey retirement but with his testimonial game which features a plethora of friends and former team-mates, who will gather at the SSE Arena to celebrate a remarkable career in Belfast. Keefe's name will join a list of legends whose jerseys hang from the bridge already, the likes of Todd Kelman, Colin Shields and Graeme Walton already immortalised - and now the Giants' "heartbeat" joins them. Not just the team's coach, Keefe has now built his life in Northern Ireland having married wife Colleen, with the couple welcoming their daughter Cora in 2021.
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast Giants to open new season with Finnish double-header in Champions League
Adam Keefe's double winners, who earned their place at Europe's top table courtesy of reclaiming the Elite League title in April, will start their season with the visits of Liiga champions KalPa and Tampere-based Ilves in a blockbuster opening two fixtures. KalPa, who won their first Liiga title back in May, will be the Giants' first competitive opponents at the SSE Arena on Thursday August 28 before Ilves arrive into Belfast two days later on Saturday August 30, both games having a 7pm face-off. That is followed by the first of two trips to Switzerland a week later, the draw unkindly giving the Giants three National League teams to face in the League stage of the competition, with games in Lausanne and Zug comprising their double-header road trip in rounds three and four. There will be a French flair to kick things off as Belfast will be at the Vaudoise Aréna to take on Swiss regular season champions Lausanne on Friday September 5 at 5pm BST before a trip to the German side of the country, with their visit to the Brossard Arena in Zug on Sunday September 7 at 1pm BST. As per usual, the tournament takes a break for about a month before returning for two midweek games in October to round out the League stage, the Giants completing their Swiss sojourn with a trip to Bern in round five, clashing at the PostFinance Arena on Wednesday October 8 with a 6.45pm BST face-off. And their schedule will be rounded out a week later on Tuesday October 14 with their final home game, Swedish side Brynäs coming to the SSE Arena for a 7pm face-off. In order to reach the knockout stages, which begin in November, the Giants need to emulate last season's Sheffield Steelers and finish in the top-16 of the 24-team League, which would likely require around eight or nine points – a tall order given the brutal draw the Giants have received. Belfast Giants' Champions League schedule All face-off times BST Thursday August 28: Belfast Giants v KalPa, SSE Arena, 7pm Saturday August 30: Belfast Giants v Ilves, SSE Arena, 7pm Friday September 5: Lausanne HC v Belfast Giants, Vaudoise Aréna, 5pm Sunday September 7: EV Zug v Belfast Giants, Brossard Arena, 1pm Wednesday October 8: SC Bern v Belfast Giants, PostFinance Arena, 6.45pm
Belfast Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Swiss trio, Swedish stunners and Finnish favourites: who are the Belfast Giants' European opponents?
At Wednesday's draw in Stockholm, Giants head coach Adam Keefe did his side no favours as he helped conduct the draw that handed his side home games with Finnish champions KalPa and fellow countrymen Ilves, as well as the visit of Swedish runners-up Brynäs. As if that wasn't hard enough, their road schedule looks even tougher as the Elite League champions will have three games in Switzerland, with visits to Lausanne, Bern and Zug awaiting them after the summer. While not a certainty, the availability of the SSE Arena means it is more than likely that the Giants will open their campaign with two home games, one on either August 28/29 and the second two days later, followed by their first two games in Switzerland as a double-header the week later. But besides the recognisable names in hockey spheres, who are these teams the Giants will face? Here's who they have to look forward to facing… Home KALPA Last season: Liiga champions (Regular season: Third) Head coach: Sami Tervonen Captain: TBA Star player: Teemu Hartikainen One for the future: Ville Ruotsalainen NHL experience: Teemu Hartikainen (52 games) International players: Jesper Mattila (Finland) A growing force in Finnish hockey, KalPa claimed its first Liiga crown in May when it defeated SaiPa in the Final and, as a result, has taken its place in the Champions League for the first time since 2017. The Kuopio-based team already have lethal centreman Jaakko Rissanen under contract for this season but are still amassing most of their roster, with netminder Stefanos Lekkas and top scorer Patrick Curry attracting offers from elsewhere and head coach Petri Karjalainen having moved to Kärpät. However, they have already confirmed a significant signing for their title defence with hometown hero Teemu Hartikainen, formerly of the Edmonton Oilers and a long-time Finnish international, has re-joined the team from Swiss side Genève-Servette. This will be KalPa's first meeting with Elite League opposition but, after pushing Lukko close two years ago, the Giants will back themselves to stun Finnish opposition this time around. BRYNÄS Last season: Swedish Hockey League runners-up (Regular season: First) Head coach: Niklas Gällstedt Captain: Johan Larsson Star player: Jakob Silfverberg One for the future: Michal Svrcek NHL experience: Jakob Silfverberg (820 games), Johan Larsson (488), Oskar Lindblom (337), Christian Djoos (155), Axel Jonsson-Fjällby (99), Victor Söderström (53), Erik Källgren (24), Mattias Norlinder (6), Anton Rödin (3) Brynäs come into this year's tournament having established themselves as one of not just Sweden's but Europe's surprise packages having only been promoted from the Swedish second division, the Allsvenskan, last year and then coming within two games of being crowned Swedish Hockey League champions this year. Niklas Gällstedt's team have had a meteoric rise to the top, signing NHL stars Jakob Silfverberg, Jordan Schroeder, Christian Djoos, Victor Söderström, Erik Källgren and Oskar Lindblom for their first season back in the SHL and being handsomely rewarded by finishing top of the regular season standings and making it to the Final, only to lose to Luleå whom the Giants faced in their first CHL campaign. Of that group, only Schroeder is unsigned for the upcoming season so they are well placed for another championship run, which reflects the challenge the Giants face, although Swedish sides do have a tendency to rest some of their bigger names in the CHL, so how many will pitch up in Belfast is questionable. ILVES Last season: Liiga bronze medallists (Regular season: Second) Captain: TBA Star player: Matias Mäntykivi One for the future: Ondřej Kos NHL experience: Carl Klingberg (12), Kasper Björkqvist (6), Joonas Nättinen (1) The Giants will get to add a new animal to the list of teams they have faced when they take on the 'Lynx' of Finland, with that being the literal translation of Liiga side Ilves. So often the bridesmaid in Finland, Ilves have won the bronze medal in three of the last four seasons and have only recently become a competitor in the CHL, with this their first meeting with an Elite League team. Tommi Niemelä's side have a deadly scoring duo in Matias Mäntykivi and Jens Lööke, but they have lost the third member of their top line in Eemeli Suomi to Växjö Lakers, which blunts their attack somewhat. Keep an eye out for the young duo of Sebastian Soini and Ondřej Kos as well, the teenagers having been drafted by the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues in last year's draft respectively but having been loaned back to Ilves for this season. Away LAUSANNE Last season: National League runners-up (Regular season: First) Head coach: Geoff Ward Captain: Ken Jäger Star player: Austin Czarnik One for the future: Benjamin Bougro NHL experience: Austin Czarnik (205 games), Dominik Kahun (186), Janne Kuokkanen (119), Sami Niku (67), Antti Suomela (51) International players: Ahti Oksanen (Finland), Antoine Keller (France), Dominik Kahun (Germany), Ken Jäger, Damien Riat (both Switzerland) Swiss side Lausanne will be a considerable challenge for the Giants following an impressive season that saw them finish top of the regular season standings in the National League and only just missing out on a first-ever title when they lost to ZSC Lions in the Final. Their strength lies in their netminding and in 22-year-old Kevin Pasche they have an elite talent, with Finnish hero Antti Suomela a lethal scorer at the other end of the ice, while last season they relied on the scoring prowess of Giants centre Scott Conway's cousin, Brendan Perlini, who has since moved on during the off-season. But their summer recruitment has been excellent, bringing in an elite scorer to partner with Suomela in American forward Austin Czarnik, as well as former Finnish international defenceman Sami Niku, while netminder Connor Hughes will provide an outstanding tandem option alongside Pasche. While this will be a first meeting between these two sides, Lausanne have faced Elite League opposition before, winning one and losing one against the Cardiff Devils in 2021. BERN Last season: National League Quarter-Finalists (Regular season: Third) Head coach: Jussi Tapola Captain: Ramon Untersander Star player: Romain Loeffel One for the future: Thierry Schild NHL experience: Anton Lindholm (66 games), Joël Vermin (24), Waltteri Merelä (19), Simon Moser (6), Victor Ejdsell (6), Hardy Häman Aktell (6) International players: Benjamin Baumgartner (Austria), Waltteri Merelä (Finland) A once-dominant force in the National League, winning five of the ten Swiss championships prior to the pandemic, Bern have struggled to replicate that form since the turn of the decade having failed to make it to even the Semi-Finals, let alone lift the trophy. Although they have lost last season's top scorer Austin Czarnik to Lausanne, former Tampa Bay Lightning winger Waltteri Merelä will provide plenty of offense for Jussi Tapola's side, as will Victor Ejdsell, but the stars on the side are from defence where the experienced pair of Romain Loeffel and Ramon Untersander excel. Bern do have a record of being beaten in Europe by Elite League teams, too, having lost 4-2 in Nottingham back in 2017, although they have winning experience as well as they won the rematch with the Panthers in Switzerland and would double up the Cardiff Devils a year later. While the Giants likely won't get the full experience given the Swiss fans do not get excited about the CHL until the knockouts, they are headed to a world-class arena, Bern attracting the second-best average attendance in Europe of 15,821 at the PostFinance-Arena. ZUG Last season: National League Quarter-Finalists (Regular season: Fourth) Head coach: Michael Liniger Captain: Lino Martschini Star player: Lino Martschini One for the future: Nic Balestra NHL experience: Dominik Kubalík (357 games), Raphael Díaz (201), Gabriel Carlsson (81), Grégory Hofmann (24) International players: Daniel Vozenilek (Czechia), Leonardo Genoni, Grégory Hofmann (both Switzerland) Compared to the other three Swiss sides in the competition, Zug do not place their reliance on big name stars but rather a team collective when it comes to success, which they have had plenty of recently. Although in the last three seasons they have been shy on trophies, qualifying for the CHL courtesy of finishing fourth in the National League, before that they were involved in four Finals over the course of five years, winning back-to-back domestic championships in 2021 and 2022. Winger Lino Martschini has evolved into one of the deadliest Swiss forwards in the game and he will be ably assisted by new arrival Dominik Kubalík who has made the move from Ambrì-Piotta, while Czech powerhouse Jan Kovář keeps firing the puck in at the age of 35 and Gabriel Carlsson is a reliable face on defence.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Belfast Giants discover Champions League opponents
Elite League champions Belfast Giants have discovered their opponents for the 2025-26 Champions League. The Giants will host Finnish sides Ilves and KalPa as well as Brynas of Sweden at the SSE Arena. They will come up against three Swiss sides in their away games, travelling to EV Zug, SC Bern and Lausanne. Each of the 24 teams in the competition will play six games, three at home and three away, with the top 16 sides progressing to the play-offs. The Giants' six games will be played between August and October with the date of the fixtures still to be confirmed.
Belfast Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast Giants handed nightmare Champions League draw with three trips to Switzerland
The Elite Ice Hockey champions will travel to EV Zug, SC Bern and Lausanne in next season's competition, while Ilves of Finland, Brynas of Sweden and KalPa of Finland will visit the SSE Arena. The tournament uses a similar style to football's Champions League, with the Giants playing three teams at home and three on the road. The top 16 will progress to the knockout rounds. The six games will be played between August and October with the exact dates confirmed at a later day. Compared to the other three Swiss sides in the competition, Zug do not place their reliance on big name stars but rather a team collective when it comes to success, which they have had plenty of recently. Although in the last three seasons they have been shy on trophies, qualifying for the CHL courtesy of finishing fourth in the National League, before that they were involved in four Finals over the course of five years, winning back-to-back domestic championships in 2021 and 2022. Winger Lino Martschini has evolved into one of the deadliest Swiss forwards in the game, while Czech powerhouse Jan Kovář keeps firing the puck in at the age of 35, with Lukas Bengtsson, one of just two former NHLers in the squad, a reliable face on defence. A once-dominant force in the National League, winning five of the ten Swiss championships prior to the pandemic, Bern have struggled to replicate that form since the turn of the decade having failed to make it to even the Semi-Finals, let alone lift the trophy. Former Tampa Bay Lightning winger Waltteri Merelä will provide plenty of offence for Pasi Puistola's side, as will Victor Ejdsell, but the stars on the side are from defence where the experienced pair of Romain Loeffel and Ramon Untersander excel. Bern do have a record of being beaten in Europe by Elite League teams, too, having lost 4-2 in Nottingham back in 2017, although they have winning experience as well as they won the rematch with the Panthers in Switzerland and would double up the Cardiff Devils a year later. While the Giants likely won't get the full experience given the Swiss fans do not get excited about the CHL until the knockouts, they are headed to a world-class arena, Bern attracting the second-best average attendance in Europe of 15,821 at the PostFinance-Arena. Swiss side Lausanne will be a considerable challenge for the Giants following an impressive season that saw them finish top of the regular season standings in the National League and only just missing out on a first-ever title when they lost to ZSC Lions in the Final. Their strength lies in their netminding and in 22-year-old Kevin Pasche they have an elite talent, with Finnish hero Antti Suomela a lethal scorer at the other end of the ice, while last season they relied on the scoring prowess of Giants centre Scott Conway's cousin, Brendan Perlini, who has since moved on during the off-season. While this will be a first meeting between these two sides, Lausanne have faced Elite League opposition before, winning one and losing one against the Cardiff Devils in 2021. Belfast Giants Head Coach Adam Keefe was part of the team that conducted the draw for Europe's premier ice hockey tournament.
