Giants recognise on-ice efforts of 2012-13 Elite League

Belfast Giants’ 2012/13 Annual Awards Dinner, a sold out affair last Monday, had a relaxed atmosphere to proceedings with the players, coaches, equipment manager and management including the Odyssey Trust mingling with sponsors, volunteers and fans to cap off the Elite League regular season’s play, with an air of excitement ahead of the upcoming playoffs.

Darryl Lloyd picked up both the Most Valuable Player’s Award and the Forward of the Year Award.

With the trophies in his hand Darryl stated: “You have no idea what this means to me? I just play hard every game as I have always done. I had no idea it was so appreciated here in the Odyssey Arena in Belfast by the Giants fans.”

Giants Captain Adam Keefe was selected as Players’ Player of the Year as well as Fans’ Favourite. Keefe, never usually lost for words said: “It’s not over yet but playing short benched and winning our last two regular season games of the campaign away and securing the Erhardt Conference Trophy shows what this team is made of.”

Noah Clarke claimed the accolade of Giants’ Top Scorer with 61 points thus far commented: “Winning the Erhardt Conference Trophy for the first time of asking shows what this team brings to the table when truly focused.”

Sam Roberts picked up the Community Service Award for his hard work on the ongoing community programs the Giants run throughout the year: “It’s great to recognised and rewarded for something I did off the ice.”

Rob Sandrock was picked as the Defenseman of the Year in a season where he led the Giants in scoring for defenseman.
Returning to the Giants fold after a ten-year absence he compared the Super League to that of the Elite League by stating: “You have to come to each game mentally prepared or suffer the consciences.”

The unsung hero award went to Mark Garside who centered the Lloyd and Keefe line: “I get passed the puck between Lloyder and Keefer then they go out, kill people and no one notices me.”

The Coach’s Player of the Year was awarded by Doug Christiansen and was please to give it to Andrew Fournier. Although injured for part of the season his goal output after coming back from injury was just as prolific.

Coach Christiansen had this to say about Fournier: “When I met him at the airport I just hated what I saw but Andrew changed my mind with his play.”

Other celebration came with Todd Kelman retiring the number 18 shirt number in recognition of Graeme Walton’s straight ten years service to the Giants.

Kelman himself was also praised by the new owners of the Belfast Giants, that of the Odyssey Trust by the CEO and Brian Burke.

Finally, in recognition for Jim Gillespie’s long standing support and funding to the Belfast Giants during his reign, the Odyssey Trust CEO made Gillespie an Honourary President of the Belfast Giants and dedicated two seats with plaques on them both to Gillespie and his wife, Mitzy.