Giant strides look to be made the off-season for Belfast

At the launch of the ‘New Era’ Belfast Giants in the W5 Wing of the Odyssey Complex the theme was certainly of the new vision held by all within the Family of the Belfast Giants organisation.

Brian Burke, Chairman of the Odyssey Trust, alongside Robert Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Odyssey Trust, both had glowing visions of the growth and future of their latest acquisition that of the Belfast Giants under the stewardship of the Trust.

Fitzpatrick confirmed the first of two major investments into the Odyssey Arena to make watching the Giants even more enjoyable to its loyal fans. A substantial investment into the screens around the arena plus a major new scoreboard will be purchased and installed before the first game of the new Elite League campaign.

Fitzpatrick said: “We want to make the Belfast Giants the best hockey team in the Elite League both on and off the ice. Our planned investment will take the Giants and visiting fans into a total new experience of the ‘Game Night’ or better put ‘Todd Night Expectation’ when coming to the Odyssey Arena.”

The second phase of the Odyssey Trust’s plan which Fitzpatrick hinted will make every Belfast Giant fan the envy of all of the Elite League and beyond. However, that plan will not be announced until the first week in September.

Fitzpatrick continued to say: “Every single one of you is an ambassador of the great team that of the Belfast Giants. We need you to spread the word about the Giants as we take them into a total new level.

“A quote I love to use by Vince Lombardi of American Football fame is: ‘The price of success is hard work. Definition job at hand. The determination of whether we win or lose, we know we have apply the best we have to the task at hand’.”

However Paul Adey, Giants’ new head coach has promised that his team are going to entertain the masses come next season: “I want us to be creative. The Giants will play to a system, which may be different from the other teams. I prefer to edge towards the offensive rather than the defensive side. If we play well, play an exciting brand of hockey and win games people will be happy.

“When I coached in Italy last season with Val Pusteria, Brunico the fans said it was probably the most entertaining team that they had ever watched,” said Adey.

Confirming his plans for the new season Adey continued: “Nottingham have set a very high standard and are obviously the team to beat. We have to do our best to change that, it’s not going to be easy and it’s going to be a big challenge. Wherever you go everybody wants to win, everybody wants trophies. It’s part of the job and I’m happy to take it on here in Belfast.”

So the marker has been laid down by both the Odyssey Trust and Coach Adey that the Giants have definitely entered a ‘New Era’ and they strive to entertain their fans and anyone who come to view them.

One can only say, “ Bring on the new season as it’s going to be a great experience at the Odyssey Arena watching the new Belfast Giants!