Press Launch For Giants vs Bruins Clash In Belfast

Posted on Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 3:16 pm

Yesterday saw the official press launch of the Bruins game in October. The announcement was made by Minister Arlene Foster on behalf of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board which has provided support and sponsorship for the much anticipated game. The game, which is also being sponsored by Belfast City Council, will mark the ten year anniversary of the Odyssey since it opened in 2000 and began hosting the Belfast Giants.

The Boston Bruins are one of the most famous hockey teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the securing of the game in Belfast is expected to attract over 4,500 out of state visitors and generate over £800,000 into the local economy, as ice hockey fans across the UK and America travel to witness the Bruins’ inaugural European game.

Press coverage from yesterdays event at the Odyssey Arena is available on the Belfast Telegraph Website and also on the UTV Sport uPlayer

Minister for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Arlene Foster, said: “The visit of the Boston Bruins is great news for Northern Ireland and will attract a huge boost to the tourism industry. This will be the first time that the National Hockey League is playing here and provides an excellent opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland as a top tourist destination. We are delighted to have been able to support the Belfast Giant’s in bringing the Bruin’s to Northern Ireland and we look forward to a great game.”

Belfast Giants General Manager, Todd Kelman, who was in Boston last week to agree the deal with the Bruins, said: “This is a big day for the Giants and a big day for the entire league. We are really looking forward to welcoming the Bruins to Belfast to see our great city and to give our fans the opportunity to witness one of the best ice hockey teams in the world in action. This game is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the Belfast Giant’s ten year anniversary having been playing at the Odyssey since it opened a decade ago.”

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Pat Convery, said:“For any NHL team to come to Ireland is a major achievement, but for the Boston Bruins, one of the best teams in the world to come to Belfast is a truly outstanding opportunity. The visit in October by the Bruins to play our Belfast Giants is as a result of a lot of hard work and collaboration between a range of organisations and Belfast City Council is proud to have played its part in securing its visit. We are really looking forward to the big match in October.”

Alan Gibson, Chairman of the Odyssey Trust Company, which was instrumental in securing the game for Northern Ireland, added: “We are delighted that the Boston Bruins, who are one of the original National Hockey League teams, have chosen the Odyssey as the first venue in their European tour. We are extremely proud of our Belfast Giants team and the securing of this game is another major achievement in the team’s ten year history and another brilliant milestone in the successful history of the Odyssey.”

Bruins forward Shawn Thornton, who recently signed with the Bruins for a further two years, said that the game in Northern Ireland was one of the reasons he wanted to re-sign: “It’ll be awesome … It’ll be unbelievable,” he told the Boston Herald. “My mom is from Belfast. I’m excited about this. I’ve been talking about it since we first heard about it. I’ve never been over there. … I know the (Bruins’ Czech players) are really excited about Prague, but I’m more excited about Belfast.”

Other sponsors of the game include Invest NI and Tourism Ireland.