How does this work? A fan will be chosen at random by our cameras pre-game and that fan will have the chance to take home the money…so make sure you’re in your seats well before face-off!

How can I win!? The £500 will only be won IF the Belfast Giants score during the first 60 seconds of the game.

What if I don’t get chosen? Cheer your team on to grab an early goal and get behind your fellow fan as if it were you as they could be walking away with £500! You never know, it could be you next game!

How can I have a chance of winning? You can’t win it if you’re not in it! Tickets for the Belfast Giants can be purchased from the Odyssey Arena Box Office on (028) 9073 9074 or from www.ticketmaster.ie

So far this season the Giants and the Devils have met on nine occasions in all competitions with the Giants having the upper hand, winning five of those encounters. A high scoring game could be on the cards tonight with Giants – Devils games averaging six goals per game in the 2009/10 Elite League season. The last time these two sides met was in Cardiff on 17th February when the Devils won 4-0. Both sides met in Belfast in January in the Challenge Cup semi final only for the Giants to lose out by a single goal on aggregate after defeating the Devils 5-3. Cardiff have had a busy schedule this week including a trip to Nottingham for the second leg of the Challenge Cup Final, coming agonizingly close and losing out 8-7 on aggregate to the Panthers.

Tickets are selling fast for Friday’s game against the Devils and can be purchased through the Odyssey Arena Box Office by calling (028) 9073 9074 or via Ticketmaster by clicking here

Finally, anyone planning on attending the end of season awards dinner on Monday 22nd March at La Mon Hotel and Country Club will need to bring the reminder of their payment to the Fanzone table (located in the foyer of the Odyssey Arena) at this game.

It’s also not a case of winner takes all, as signed jerseys and match night tickets are also up for grabs. So, how do you earn a fancy Corporate Suite at the Belfast Giants for yourself and 13 friends? Well, the winner of the Giants facebook giveaway will be the person who gets the most people to become fans of the official Belfast Giants facebook page.   

For all of you facebook-ers out there, the Giants facebook giveaway will be on offer starting Friday 19th February and the Giants will be tracking the fans who join the Giants facebook page right up until midnight of Thursday 11th March and the winner will be announced the following evening as the Giants take on the Cardiff Devils on Friday 12th March at the Odyssey Arena.

For those who do not have facebook accounts now is the time sign up and connect with the world. Just go to facebook.com and set up an account. From there it’s easy. Once you have opened an account just type in “Belfast Giants” in the search section then the official Belfast Giants facebook page will be displayed on your screen. All you have to do is click on the “become a fan” tab and there you have it. Once you are a fan of the Giants facebook page all you have to do is suggest the page to all of your facebook friends.

So come on fans spread the word and connect online through facebook. Become a fan of the official Belfast Giants facebook page where you can post comments, watch highlights, get updates and chat with other fans.

Each side will play three home and three away against the other teams in the league for a 48-game season. The Elite League campaign will begin on the weekend of 4th/5th September 2010 and end on 12th/13th March 2011.

The top six teams will qualify for the 2010/11 play-offs and will face each other in the round robin format. This will see the sides finishing first, second and third having the incentive of playing three home games and two away, with teams in fourth, fifth and six playing two homes games and three away. Matches will take place between the 14th and 27th March.

The top four will meet in the traditional play-off finals weekend on 2nd and 3rd April 2011, with the two semi-finals on the Saturday and the play-off final taking place on the Sunday.

Elite League chairman, Eamon Convery, said: “We are very excited by the new format for the 2010/11 season. The addition of Braehead is great for the sport and I am sure supporters will be thrilled with the changes we’ve made.

“Play-offs are always one of the most important and exciting times in the season and this new longer format is sure to excite every hockey fan. There’s now added emphasis on the league season with nine teams battling it out for six spots and then jostling for position in the top three, to claim that all important extra home game.”

The evening includes a four course meal, the presentation of awards to players, and the night will be rounded off by a live band, Latitude 56, who you may remember from the 2009 Awards Dinner . This year’s event is open to everyone aged 18 and over.

Tickets, which cost £37 per person (£27 for Fanzone members), are limited and will be sold on a first come first served basis. Bookings will only be confirmed on receipt of £10 deposit (non-refundable) with full payment required by Friday 12th March.

Sponsors of awards have get the chance to present the winning player with their award on the night and anyone interested in sponsoring an award should contact Fanzone’s Cheryl or Paul as soon as possible.

For further information please call Cheryl from Fanzone on 07843 099 720 after 6pm or speak to Fanzone at their game night desk in the foyer of the Odyssey Arena.

2010 Belfast Giants FanZone End Of Season Awards Dinner Booking Form

Final Score: Edinburgh Capitals 4-3 LBM Belfast Giants  
 
Period Scores: 0-1, 2-0, 2-2
Penalty Mins: Edi 16 – Bel 73
Powerplay: Edi 4/13 – Bel 2/6
Shots On: Cody Rudkowsky 26 – Stephen Murphy 35
Referee: Dean Smith

Final Score: Edinburgh Capitals 1-3 LBM Belfast Giants
 
Period Scores: 0-2, 1-1, 0-0
Penalty Mins: Edi 73 – Bel 39
Powerplay: Edi 0/5 – Bel 3/10
Shots On: Cody Rudkowsky 32 – Stephen Murphy 22
Referee: Dean Smith

We’re now getting down to the business end of the league campaign and Belfast know they must win all their games from now to the end of the season and hope that Coventry slip up somewhere along the line.

The Giants quickly piled on the pressure and found themselves propelled into an early lead. With 6.45 on the clock Pat Bateman spun around a Stingrays defenseman and walked in 1on1 slotting the puck past Martins Raitums to net the opening goal of the game and then added his second at 9.52 this time converting a 3on2 involving Colin Shields & Jeffery Szwez.

Szwez then added his name to the score sheet as the 1st period was coming to a close. The Giants playing with a man advantage were setup in the Stingrays end trying to create an opening when Szwez cycled the puck around the half boards and found a shooting lane to beat Raitums high on his glove side giving the Giants a comfortable 3 goal lead going into the intermission.

A further three goals in the second period from Belfast ended the game as a contest. A second powerplay goal this time from Evan Cheverie at 23.18 took the score line to 4-0 as he picked up the left overs from Batemans wrap around attempt. Two goals just over a minute apart put the Giants on easy street. Pierre-Luc Faubert’s slapper was deflected off a Stingrays player and trickled across the line on the powerplay at 32.27 and then Michael Jacobsen added his 12th of the season at 33.45 as his wrister found the bottom corner stretching the lead to 6-0.

It was a case of damage limitations in the third period for Hull. Goaltender Martins Raitums although beaten another three times, turned away 18 of the 21 shots he faced. Sean McMorrow at 46.07 made it seven rounding off some nice work down low by Craig Peacock, before Peacock added a goal of his own spinning off a check and smashing the puck home at 49.51.

With the time ticking down man of the match Pat Bateman rounded off his hat trick. Szwez banked the puck around the last Stingrays defenseman which lead to a 2on0. Szwez un-selfishly squared the pass and Bateman found the 5 hole of Raitums to complete a comprehensive win for the Giants which also included yet another shutout for Stephen Murphy turning away 24 shots.

Period Scores: 3-0, 3-0, 3-0
Penalty Mins: Bel 6 Hul 8
Powerplay: Bel 3/4 Hul – 0/3
Shots On: Stephen Murphy 24 – Martins Raitums 43
Referee: Tom Darnell

Game Notes:
Belfast’s final goal was their 800th competitive EIHL goal scored at home

The Tesco ‘Get Fit’ programme delivered by Captain Colin Shields of the LBM Belfast Giants worked with a great group of young people today. The P5 class from Cregagh Primary school were fresh faced and very tired by the end of the session. After warm up routines and games, they finished the session with a serious game of hockey, seeing the ‘ Golden Huskeys’ Vs the ‘Golden Eagles’.

Golden Eagles won 8:3 and the class teacher Mrs Curry, had to help with noise control as the class also became enthusiastic cheer leaders during the game! As part of the ‘Get Fit’ programme Tesco have sponsored the class to come a game very soon to see Colin and the LBM Belfast Giants in action!

LBM Belfast Giants star Craig Peacock visited St. Joesph’s Primary School in Carryduff as part the Belfast Giants and Tesco ‘Get Fit’ programme. The P6 class were taken through their paces by Peacock and proved to be well skilled and very enthusiastic when it comes to hockey and ice hockey.

They had many questions for Craig and he was only too happy to talk with them about what it’s like to play and score for a team like the Giants. The class discussed the importance of physical activity and got some top tips from Peacock on how to become fitter and stronger. The class will be coming to a game within the next fortnight to see the Giants play, thanks to Tesco.