Adam Keefe Testimonial - Live Roster News

The game will celebrate Keefe’s remarkable contributions, both on and off the ice, as a player, captain, and head coach, marking over a decade of dedication to the Giants and the local community. The one-of-a-kind game will take place at The SSE Arena, where fans, teammates, and ice hockey enthusiasts alike will gather to pay tribute to Keefe’s enduring legacy

The roster for Adam Keefe’s testimonial will be gradually announced over the coming weeks. Check-in here and on the Giants’ social media channels for updates as announcements are made. Player lineup is subject to change. Tickets can be purchased here.

DARRYL LLOYD [Announced: 24 December 2024]

From Ontario, Canada, 40-year-old Lloyd, who, alongside Adam Keefe, made up the infamous ‘Bash Brothers’ duo, spent five seasons in Belfast between 2011 and 2016, netting 75 times in 289 games for the Giants. Having hung up his skates during the 2019/20 season, Lloyd returned to Belfast in April 2023 to participate in the Belfast Giants All Stars game that raised over £65,000 for the Ukrainian Hockey Dream Foundation.

JON PELLE [Announced: 29 January 2025]

Jon Pelle joined the Giants ahead of the 2011/12 season, making an immediate impact with his offensive skill and playmaking ability. That season, he played a key role in helping the Giants secure the EIHL League title, contributing 29 goals and 41 assists. Before his time in Belfast, Pelle had success in both North America and Europe, including standout performances in the ECHL and Swedish leagues.

KEVIN SAURETTE [Announced: 6 February 2025]

Having initially joined the Giants as short-term injury cover during the 2012/13 season, Winnipeg-born Saurette quickly became a key part of the team’s offence. After a number of stellar performances throughout the season, the Giants re-signed Saurette the following season, during which he recorded more than 85 total points and helped the team claim the Elite League title. Having been named in the EIHL’s 2013/24 All-Star Team, Saurette was named as one of the Giants’ alternate captains for the 2014/15 campaign, playing alongside fellow members of the testimonial roster, Darryl Lloyd and Robby Sandrock.

ROBBY SANDROCK [Announced: 12 February 2025]

First arriving in Belfast in 2002, Robby Sandrock had a remarkable career with the Giants, recording 45 points in 50 games in all competitions throughout his first season. After spending a decade playing in Germany, Sandrock returned to the Giants for the 2012/13 season, where he continued to be an instrumental player from the blue line. At the conclusion of the 2013/14 season, Sandrock was named on the EIHL All-Star Team.

BRANDON BENEDICT [Announced: 20 February 2025]

First arriving in Belfast ahead of the 2009/10 campaign, Benedict contributed more than 55 total points during his debut season. After a successful period with the Nottingham Panthers, Benedict returned to Belfast for the 2015/16 campaign and over the next three seasons, played a pivotal role in the team’s success, both as a player and as an assistant coach.

STEVE SAVIANO [Announced: 26 February 2025]

Having spent two seasons with the Giants between 2016 and 2018, icing over 100 times, Massachusetts-born Saviano played an integral part in the Giants reaching the playoffs during both of his seasons in Belfast before moving on to play for Weißwasser-based Lausitzer Füchse in the German DEL2, where he finished his career in 2019.

CHRIS HIGGINS [Announced: 28 February 2025]

Chris Higgins first joined the Giants for the 2013/14 season, making an immediate impact by contributing 50 total points in 44 regular season games. After a season with the Nottingham Panthers in 2014/15, Higgins returned to Belfast, where he remained a key offensive player. In the 2016/17 season, he recorded 56 total points in 49 appearances.

DARCY MURPHY [Announced: 4 March 2025]

Known affectionately to the Teal Army as ‘Dangles’ for his speed and stick work, Murphy made a huge impact on the Giants organisation across his three seasons in Belfast, and retired as a two time Elite League champion and a three time Challenge Cup winner. Murphy spoke of having ‘fallen in love’ with the city of Belfast when he first crossed the Atlantic in 2015 to play in the inaugural Friendship Four college hockey tournament at The SSE Arena, Belfast with Colgate.

BLAIR RILEY [Announced: 6 March 2025]

Joining the Giants in 2016, Blair Riley quickly established himself as a core part of the team’s offence, going on to play 165 regular season games for the Giants, recording 182 total points. In the 2017/18 season, Riley was named team captain, leading the Giants to back-to-back Challenge Cup victories in 2017/18 and 2018/19.

TYLER BESKOROWANY [Announced: 11 March 2025]

Fan favourite Tyler ‘Besko’ Beskorowany was a talismanic player for the Giants. Standing at six feet four inches, Beskorowany first joined the Giants for the 2018/19 season, backstopping the team to an Elite League title and earning the EIHL Netminder of the Year accolade. After a brief hiatus from hockey, Beskorowany returned in 2021, contributing to multiple championship victories, including the club’s first-ever treble, over the following two seasons.

KYLE BAUN [Announced: 13 March 2025]

Kyle Baun spent the 2018/19 season with the Belfast Giants, notching an 93 total points in 81 games in all competitions. Baun's impressive contribution on the ice played a significant role in helping the Giants to secure the 2018/19 Elite League and Challenge Cup titles. Prior to arriving in Belfast, Baun spent two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL between 2014 and 2016.

DUSTIN JOHNER [Announced: 24 March 2025]

Selected by the Florida Panthers in the sixth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Dustin Johner iced for teams across North America, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Germany, and Sweden before spending the last two seasons of his career in Belfast. The Saskatchewan-born forward registered over 100 appearances for the Giants between 2017 and 2019, helping the club to secure back-to-back Challenge Cups and the 2018/19 Elite League title.

MATT NICKERSON [Announced: 27 March 2025]

The imposing 6'5" Nickerson, who was the 99th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, first landed in the Elite League in 2013, joining the Fife Flyers. After two seasons and more than 90 appearances for the Kirkcaldy side, Nickerson spent the 2015/16 and 2016/17 with the Giants, icing over over 100 times.

MIKE RICHARDS [Announced: 28 March 2025]

From Ontario, Mike Richards spent 11 seasons in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and Washington Capitals. A former Flyers' captain and Kings' alternate captain, the two-time Stanley Cup winner also represented his native Canada on 16 occasions, most notably at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Image Credit - AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

MARK GARSIDE [Announced: 1 April 2025]

From East Kilbride, 35-year-old Garside first arrived in Belfast for the 2010/11 season and recorded over 670 appearances for the Giants across 13 seasons, making him the most capped player in club history. Prior to joining Giants, Garside spent three seasons with the Edinburgh Capitals in his native Scotland between 2006 and 2010, icing over 200 times for the Murrayfield-based side. Across his decorated 18-year career, treble-winner Garside skated for Great Britain’s men’s team at U18, U20, and senior level, notching a total of 40 appearances for the senior side, including two outings at the 2020/21 World Championships in Latvia.

BRAD BONELLO [Announced: 3 April 2025]

Hailing from Brampton, Ontario, Brad Bonello has iced for teams across North America and Europe, including the Edinburgh Capitals during the 2008/09 season. Trading his skates for a script, Bonello stars as Marco 'Sly' Sylvestri in the hit Canadian comedy series, Shoresy.

Image Credit - Lindsay Sarazin

COLIN SHIELDS [Announced: 8 April 2025]

Glasgow-born Shields, former captain of the Belfast Giants, was named on the King's Birthday Honours list for 2023 with recognition for his contribution to the sport. In a glittering career for the Belfast Giants spanning 14 years, the NHL draftee experienced it all. On his way to amassing three EIHL league titles, three Challenge Cups, an EIHL Playoff title, a Knockout Cup, and a host of individual league accolades in teal, Colin Shields set the Belfast Giants record for most appearances (611), goals (245), assists (395) and total points (644). He also broke the goal scoring record for Team GB Men, retiring with a string of medals. His retirement in 2019 was followed by an induction into the UK Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2021. In 2022 Shields' jersey, number 19, was rightfully retired, taking its place alongside the immortals in Belfast.

DAVID PHILLIPS [Announced: 10 April 2025]

Phillips is no stranger to Belfast, having iced nearly 200 times for the Giants during four spells with the club between 2008 and 2015. First joining in the 2008/09 season, Phillips went on to help the Giants claim the Challenge Cup and Knockout Cup in his debut season. Phillips represented fellow Elite Ice Hockey League sides Coventry Blaze, Manchester Storm, and Sheffield Steelers across a stellar career. Having been a member of Team GB since 2004, in May 2023, Phillips became just the sixth men’s Great Britain ice hockey player to win 100 senior caps – a milestone he reached at the 2023 IIHF World Championship Division I.

STEPHEN MURPHY [Announced: 14 March 2025]

Fan favourite Murphy originally joined the Giants in 2009 from the Manchester Phoenix. The Scot played a vital role in helping the organisation reach the Playoff Championship at the end of his first season in Belfast. Murphy famously starred in the decisive shootout in the 2010 grand final against the Cardiff Devils.

His enviable all-time record includes 10,584 saves in 440 games, achieving a save percentage of 0.913 and 26 shutouts during a mammoth 25,741 minutes of on-ice time.

CRAIG PEACOCK [Announced: 16 April 2025]

An Elite League and Great Britain legend, Craig Peacock's professional career spanned more than 15-years, notching hundreds of appearances for the Belfast Giants, Glasgow Clan, Manchester Storm, and Fife Flyers. Formerly the General Manager of the NIHL's Solway Sharks, Peacock is a two-time Elite League champion, capturing both titles with the Giants between 2011 and 2014.

Image Credit - Glasgow Clan

PETR CECH [Announced: 18 April]

No stranger to Belfast, or in fact the men in teal, Cech iced in April 2023 as part of a purpose-built Belfast Giants All-Stars roster that took part in The Odyssey Trust’s Hockey Can’t Stop Tour game at The SSE Arena, Belfast. The former Arsenal and Chelsea goalkeeper played over 440 Premier League games during a decorated 15-year career – winning four Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, the Champions League, and Europa League – before retiring from professional football in 2019. Čech also represented the Czech Republic national team 124 times, playing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Football Championships.

MATT TOWE [Announced: 22 April]

No stranger to the Elite League, Matt Towe spent time with the Belfast Giants, Sheffield Steelers, Cardiff Devils, Glasgow Clan, and Guildford Flames between 2006 and 2019, capturing the Elite League and Challenge Cup titles with the Giants during his final season. The Sheffield-born forward also represented Great Britain across three World Championships between 2007 and 2010.

JEREMY REBEK [Announced: 24 April 2025]

Jeremy Rebek captained the Belfast Giants during the 2011/12 season, contributing more than 40 total points and leading the team to the Elite League championship. A legend of Austrian ice hockey, Rebek plied his trade with teams across the ICE Hockey League, capturing the domestic league title with EC Red Bull Salzburg during the 2009/10 campaign.

Image Credit - GEPA pictures/ Matthias Hauer

JONATHAN BOXILL [Announced: 25 April 2025]

Jonathan Boxill first arrived in the Elite League ahead of the 2013/14 season, spending two years with the Nottingham Panthers before landing in Belfast for the 2015/16 season. A Great Britain international, Boxill notched more than 200 appearances for the Giants across four seasons, capturing the Elite League and Challenge Cup titles in 2018/19.

MARK COOPER [Announced: 28 April 2025]

First arriving in Belfast for the 2021/22 season, the 31-year-old forward has registered over 180 appearances across three seasons for the Giants, cementing himself as one of the cornerstones of the team. Having played an integral role as alternate captain during his first two seasons in Belfast, Cooper was appointed captain ahead of the 2023/24 season, during which he led the club to its most successful Champions Hockey League campaign in history and the Elite League Playoff Final.

DAVID GOODWIN [Announced: 28 April 2025]

First arriving in Belfast for the 2019/20 season, 32-year-old Goodwin has notched over 200 appearances across four seasons for the Giants. Having departed for Spanish side CH Jaca at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season, the St. Louis-born forward re-joined the Giants midway through the 2023/24 season, recording 28 total points in 31 games.

BEN LAKE [Announced: 28 April 2025]

Calgary-born British dual-national Lake first arrived in Belfast for the 2019/20 season and has since tallied more than 250 appearances in all competitions across four seasons with the Giants. The experienced forward, who is best-known for his passion and work ethic on the ice, has spent the last three seasons as one of the club’s alternate captains, establishing himself as a well-respected figure by fans and teammates alike.

JOSH ROACH [Announced: 28 April 2025]

From Saskatoon in Canada, Roach first joined the Giants ahead of the 2018/19 season, before going on to play with the Black Wings Linz in the Austrian ICE Hockey League and Kenaston Blizzards in the Saskatchewan Valley Hockey League. Roach then returned to Belfast midway through the 2022/23 season, contributing as a solid defenceman in the historic treble-winning campaign, registering two goals and 16 assists in 25 Elite Ice Hockey League appearances.

GABE BAST [Announced: 28 April 2025]

Alberta-born Bast first joined the Belfast Giants ahead of the 2022/23 season, during which he recorded 74 total points in 72 games in all competitions, playing an integral role in the Giants’ treble-winning campaign. Prior to his first stint in Belfast, Bast spent four-years at the University of North Dakota, where he made over 100 appearances for the Fighting Hawks. Bast then went on to join Kuopio-based side KalPa in the Finnish Liiga for the 2021/22 season, before making the move to Northern Ireland the following season.