Petr Cech: Ex-Chelsea goalkeeper joins Belfast Giants in loan move

Petr Cech guested for Belfast Giants in a charity game in April

Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has joined Elite League ice hockey team Belfast Giants in a loan move as temporary netminding cover.

Cech, 41, plays for Oxford City Stars in the National Ice Hockey League, which is a tier below the Elite League.

Earlier this year, Cech guested for the Giants in a charity game in Belfast.

"Petr is a highly decorated athlete, who knows what it takes to perform at the highest level," said Belfast Giants coach Adam Keefe.

"We're very appreciative of the support of both the Oxford City Stars and Petr himself.

"His support during this loan period will be invaluable."

Cech's guest appearance for the Giants at the SSE Arena in April was in a game against Ukrainian side Dnipro Kherson which raised over £65,000 to support the continuation of ice hockey in the war-afflicted country.

The Czech star played more than 330 football games for Chelsea between 2004 and 2015 before a further four-year stint at Arsenal.

He won four Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, the Champions League, and Europa League before retiring from professional football in 2019.

Cech also made 124 international appearances for his country and played in the 2006 World Cup and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012.

After his football career ended in 2019, he began playing ice hockey for Guildford Phoenix before subsequent spells at Chelmsford Chieftains and his current team Oxford City stars.