After a rough few months for last season’s treble winners, Giant’s head coach Adam Keefe has brought back a number of trusted lieutenants from last season’s squad.
Former captain David Goodwin has been joined by fellow members of the 2022/23 treble winning squad Will Cullen and Henrik Erikson in returning to the Giants in recent weeks.
With the Giants seeking to turn around a 14-point deficit to league leaders Sheffield Steelers in the Elite League standings, there is plenty of catching up to do.
However, the Giants had a mid-season comeback last season to overtake Guildford Flames and win the league title with the help of a number of reinforcements. Only time will tell whether history can repeat itself or whether the Giants have left it too late on this occasion.
Indeed, inconsistent form this season has already seen the men in teal crash out of the Challenge Cup in spectacular fashion, losing a 4-0 lead to Coventry Blaze who came back and won in a shootout.
It has been a rollercoaster of a season and, with the aim of retaining the treble now impossible, the Giants desperately need a boost if they are to have any hope of rallying in the second half of the season.
Keefe commented on the re-signing of several members of the Giant’s old guard who, he says, will bring a winning mentality back to the squad.
“We couldn’t be happier that David Goodwin will be returning to Belfast,” Keefe explained.
“He leads by example and embodies what it means to be a Giant.
“Throughout his time in Belfast, he was always someone who stepped up and did what it took to win, and having people like that on your roster is invaluable.
“Goody is an out-and-out professional, and I look forward to working alongside him again.
“When the opportunity arose to bring Cully (Will Cullen) back into the fold, it was a no-brainer for me. He understands what it takes to win and to be a Giant. Will played a huge part in last season’s successes, and I know that he’ll give everyone a real boost.”
“Henrik (Erikson) played a pivotal role in last season’s successes and knows what it takes to win. He understands and fits with the culture that we have worked hard to create, so he’ll be a welcome addition to the roster. He is a pro and loves it here in Belfast. I have no doubt he’ll help.”
A raft of injuries as well as the departures of Quinn Preston and Johnny Curran from the Giants made space for the new recruits. After losing a number of leads this season, including a 4-3 shootout loss to the Fife Flyers last weekend, a priority for the Giants will be game management and, of course, goals.
It was not the festive period the Giants would have wanted but, with Sunday’s scheduled trip to Cardiff Devils postponed due to heavy fog, the Giants have been granted a rare reprieve in the action packed ice hockey season which saw them play fifteen games in the month leading up to Christmas.
The Giants are back in action this weekend as they take on the Nottingham Panthers in a home double-header on Friday and Saturday at the SSE Arena.
The Giants currently sit in third place, while Nottingham Panthers sit ninth in the league but with four games in hand. The Panthers ended their eight-game winless run with a comeback win over Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy on Sunday night, coming from 2-0 and 3-1 down to move off the foot of the table.
Nottingham head-coach Jonathan Paredes will be hoping last weekend’s win will give his side the momentum they need to surge ahead in the table, while Adam Keefe will be looking for his trusted lieutenants to spark a turnaround in form and salvage their league title bid.