Kelman recruits to keep the Giants of Belfast

Less than 24 hours after the 2012/13 campaign, Belfast found themselves without a head coach as Doug Christiansen departed for arch rivals Sheffield Steelers seeing them as his new future.

Most GM’s might have ducked for cover, or sought a scapegoat after the kind of season that the Stena Line Belfast Giants had to endure; not so Todd Kelman.

He has stood tall and honourably taken on the chin whatever life has thrown at the Giants and himself and dealt with it professionally.

Whilst looking for a new head coach, Kelman has also got to work signing the Giants’ core UK and ‘go to’ players they wanted to secure from last season’s squad. First up was the British pairing of forward Mark Garside and defenseman Davey Phillips.

Both players are vital parts of the Team GB national squad and will be returning to the Giants for next season’s campaign.

Mark Garside won the Giants’ Supporters’ ‘Unsung Hero’ award though missed the playoffs with an upper body injury. The signing will be Garside’s fourth as a Belfast Giant following four previous years spent with the Edinburgh Capitals.

Davey Phillips has put pen to paper for his third season in a Giants’ jersey following an impressive return to Belfast in the 2012/13 season. Phillips first played for the Giants in 2008/09 and played in North America, Australia, Denmark & Coventry before returning to Belfast for the 2012/13 Season.

So Todd has really got dug in making sure that the Giants players wanted to stay within the fold. Next up was the securing of forward Darryl Lloyd and defenseman Jeff Mason.

Lloyd was certainly a fans’ favourite from last year’s squad. You did not need to look too hard to make contact with his number 72 on the ice; you just had to use your ears – that crashing plexi-glass sound! Darryl was selected as Most Valuable Player for Belfast as well as Forward of the Year this past season voted by fans after tallying 17 goals and 33 points in 54 games played.

Lloyd’s hard-hitting style of play has forced the opposition to play with their heads up whilst becoming a favourite of the spectators during his two seasons in Belfast. His performance has earned him a reputation as possibly the best open ice hitter in the Elite League.

Moving onto Jeff Mason, this Giant re-joined Belfast in October last term after starting the season in Norway. In 38 games in 2012/13 he scored 6 goals and added 16 assists while logging some of the most minutes in the league on the blueline. In the previous season, Mason was selected as the Elite League’s ‘Best Defenseman’ after tallying 21 goals and 65 points on route to an Elite League Championship.

Could there be more without a head coach? Yes – a Captain in Adam Keefe.

Keefer has become one of the most popular players in Giants’ history in only two seasons in Belfast. The loyal fans of the Giants will be very excited to have him back for another year.

The Giants’ Todd Kelman stated: “The best way to describe Adam Keefe is that he is old-school. He plays with intensity every night, he blocks shots, he stands up for his teammates, he plays hurt and most of all he plays with passion and intensity every single shift.

“He was the one guy I was particularly worried about losing to another team in the Elite League because teams know his value to the Giants and the entire organisation.

“Away from the rink, Adam does more for the community than our fans would even realize and although he wouldn’t necessarily show that side of himself, he has a big heart and has made it a priority to give time to kids that need a role model in their life.

“On the ice I watch him night in and night out go to war for this club. I have watched him fight for his teammates and play the next night with a broken hand. I have seen him dive head first to block shots. He is fearless and the perfect Captain for the Giants.

Keefe has earned ‘Fans’ Favourite’ for each of the last two seasons and this past season he was chosen by his teammates as the ‘Player’s Player of the Year.’”

Kelman continued: “Keefer sent me an email when he landed back in Canada and explained why he wanted to come back to Belfast. He didn’t ask for more money, he didn’t make any crazy demands. He explained that he knew it would matter to the organisation and to the fans if he signed early. So in my mind, he just ‘gets it’.

“I can’t ever explain fully to our fans what a class act Keefe is and what he said about our fans. This city and this team tells me that as long as he wants to be Captain of the Giants, he is the right man for the job,” concluded Kelman.

Kelman is on a roll securing the Giants’ most respected and hard working players whilst working diligently towards recruiting a Head Coach that meets Belfast’s expectations to drive them forward to higher achievements. We wait in anticipation for the next episode in Belfast’s very own, history making ice hockey team.