New Look Giants Off To A Winning Start

Posted on Saturday, August 27th, 2011 at 9:50 pm

After a five month sabbatical the new look Stena Line Belfast Giants took to the ice for the first time, facing off against a familiar foe in the shape of the Nottingham Panthers in the first game of “Hockeyfest”.

With the teams facing off again tomorrow night it was the Giants who took bragging rights from the first game with a 2-1 win.

In a high energy first period it was the Giants who took an early lead through Adam Keefe who netted his first as a Giant slotting the puck past Dan Green on the powerplay to the delight of the Belfast fans with Brock McBride and Benoit Doucet picking up the assists.

In the second period the Giants doubled their advantage as Keefe netted again converting an end-to-end rush on a feed from Benoit Doucet and Derek LeBlanc.

David Clarke spoiled Murphy’s shutout as he grabbed the solo tally for the Panthers with Matthew Myers and Scott Champagne picking up the assists.

The shot count after 60 minutes read 27 each and no doubt both teams will play with the same intensity tomorrow night to gain the all important edge before the Elite League season starts off in earnest next week.

Click HERE to check out the UTV Highlights from tonights game…