The Belfast Giants are a professional ice hockey team based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The team was founded in 2000 and became one of the founding members of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) in 2003, the premier ice hockey league in the United Kingdom.
After 15 games on the road, Giants played their first ever home game on December 2, 2000 against Ayr Scottish Eagles and have since established themselves as one of the top teams in the league, winning several championships over the years. Their first major championship came in 2002, when they won the British Superleague. The Giants continued this pattern of success winning the Elite League on 5 occasions.
After a barren few season, the Giants appointed former player Adam Keefe as head coach. Keefe has led the Giants behind the bench through their most successful period to date. Keefe has led the Giants to back-to-back league titles, three Challenge Cup victories and has narrowly lost two Playoff finals. Keefe also led the Giants in their first venture into Europe’s top competition, The Champions Hockey League.
Throughout their history, the Giants have been known for their strong play and hard-working team mentality. The team has also been instrumental in growing the sport of ice hockey in Northern Ireland and promoting the sport at a regional and national level. The Giants have developed a large and passionate fan base, with many fans traveling from across Northern Ireland and the UK to support the team. The Giants have been active throughout the community in Northern Ireland, most significantly being politically/culturally neutral establishing their own identity in a new Northern Ireland.
The team has had a number of successful players over the years, including Theo Fleury, who won the Stanley Cup in 1989 with the Calgary Flames, and Griffin Reinhart, who was drafted 4th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2012 NHL Entry draft. Recently, Giants fans have had star players such as Tyler Beskorowany and Scott Conway produce success for the ‘Teal Army’.
The Giants play their home games at the SSE Arena in Belfast, which has a capacity for over 7000 spectators on game nights. The arena is one of the largest and most modern ice hockey venues in the UK, and provides an excellent environment for both players and fans with the Boomerang Corner creating a unique atmosphere that can be felt right across the arena. Recent improvements in the arena has seen the Giants create a game night experience on par with that of the major European Leagues.
The Giants have benefited hugely through their partnerships with North American Universities through the Friendship Four tournament. This has seen the Giants recruit a lot of young promising alumni from the tournament giving them a competitive edge over their competitors in recent years. The Giants continue to be a major force in UK ice hockey and have a bright future ahead of them.