Mike's first season in the UK ended with the Giants lifting the Elite league trophy. Posting six shut outs and with a save rate of 92.62% was all coach Ed Courtenay needed to know before bringing 'Mini' back for another year. On any given night, Mike has the ability to win a game on his own and has proven it time after time as he's frustrated every coach and player in the league with his match winning saves.

Selected in the fourth round by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Minard began his professional career in 1996-97 with Wheeling of the East Coast Hockey League. He also played in the ECHL with New Orleans, Dayton, Reading and Toledo, and finally in 2004 completed a good year with Columbia Inferno where he had an impressive 5 shutouts during the regular season. Minard was selected by his peers at the Columbia Inferno to represent them at the 2005 Coors Light ECHL All-Star game in Pennsylvania January 2005. Last season he was picked as the Giants Players Player of the Year and the Coaches Player of the Year as well as picking up an all-star selection for the Elite League as voted by the British Ice Hockey Writers Association.