Giants' 25th celebrations to include Keefe testimonial

The Odyssey Trust has unveiled a commemorative sculpture to begin celebrations marking a 25th anniversary season for Belfast Giants which will include a testimonial for the organisation's coach Adam Keefe on 8 June.

Located at The SSE Arena's main entrance, the four-metre tall four puck-shaped structure will welcome ice hockey fans and concertgoers to the home of the Belfast Giants.

The Giants' continuing success having played more than 1,000 games home and away and enticed million of fans to their venue has confounded those sceptics who said that ice hockey would not prove popular in Belfast.

"I wasn’t around back then but I’ve been told about the way it was received by some people," Keefe remarked to BBC Sport NI at the unveiling of the Giants-themed sculpture.

"The people who got on board in the early days, it’s special for them and it’s extra special that this puck will be really cemented here in The SSE Arena."

Giants heroes to play in testimonial

Keefe is among the band of North American ice hockey players who made Belfast their home after joining the Giants.

"There does seem to be something a little different and a little special about playing here. There are so many players who have stayed here.

"We have a bunch on our coaching staff and on our management and others sprinkled around town that haven’t left.

"You come here and it does mean a little more than a pro hockey team. Bringing both sides of the community together and helping out in the community is equally important to winning."

Keefe's testimonial weekend next June will also bring back to the city a host of players who made a big impact during their stints in Belfast.

"Mainly I’m happy that we will welcome back some players that deserve to come back and see it as they were a big part of the success here," added the Giants coach.

"I’m also happy for the fans and the staff that get to see those guys coming back. It’s going to be a lot of fun celebrating 25 years and there are going to be a lot of familiar faces back in town."

Belfast Giants have won the Elite League trophy on seven occasions - most recently in the 2022-23 season

Odyssey Trust chief executive Robert Fitzpatrick said that the new "emblem of this city" will recognise the work of visionaries Bob Zeller, Albert Maasland and Jim Gillespie who "passion and commitment" made Belfast Giants reality.

"We’ve been mainstream since we started winning all the trophies in the Elite League and we started selling out the building. We’ll continue to sell-out the building," said the Odyssey Trust chief.

Fitzpatrick added that the Giants have never rested on their laurels and said this drive and ambition would continue.

"We need to get more facilities. We need to build a rink. We need to get our own children understanding that ice hockey is a sport they can participate and excel in.

"If this [the unveiling of the sculpture] does anything, it provokes that conversation within the city, with the government, with our philanthropists……..with anybody that’s out there who realises that 25 years ago they said it wouldn’t last. We’re here to stay."

The Odyssey Trust chief said Keefe was totally befitting of the testimonial honour.

"The man has been central to the success of the Belfast Giants as a player, coach but more importantly as a person who espouses all that is good about the organisation."