Crowd of over 5,900 celebrate as the Giants begin the defence of the Challenge Cup with a 4-1 win over Dundee Stars.

Solid but not spectacular from the home side - they didn't need to be great tonight and Dundee will hope for a better performance on home ice when the two teams meet on Saturday night.

The season is off and running and it is great to be back...

Thanks for joining us...

Image source, Press Eye

Quinn Preston caps a great performance with the empty netter...

Image source, Belfast Giants

Good forechecking pressure from Matt McLeod and Greg Printz as they set up Ciaran Long who rips the one-timer off the underside of the crossbar

Giants back on the powerplay...

Image source, Belfast Giants

This goal from Ara Nazarian separates the two teams as the third period gets underway - Giants lead but only just....

Image source, Press Eye

That Dundee goal late in the period means this game is still very much in doubt and there's a little needle in the game as the two sets of players need separated as they head to the locker rooms

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Great rush up ice by the Stars. Tyler Beskorowany can't control the rebound and puck breaks to Johnny Walker who tucks it home - drinks are on him later!

On a short powerplay for the Giants it's Ara Nazarian at the back post who slots home the one-timer

Image source, Belfast Giants

Mark Cooper's goal separates the sides at the halfway mark. Both teams showing early season chemistry issues on the line combinations but it's a good, tight game

Image source, Press Eye

Mark Cooper scores the opening goal for the Giants who then kill a powerplay and almost add to the lead but Charlie Curti is denied...

Image source, Belfast Giants

First period finishes scoreless but no shortage of action. Giants with the better chances, Kevin Carr keeping the door shut for the Stars.

At the other end the visitors have had a few good opportunities but it's a pretty even game after 20 minutes....

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Quinn Preston showing off all his skills as the Giants create traffic in front of Carr but a quick whistle helps the Dundee netminder out but so far he's been excellent.

The Stars however have a glorious chance to take the lead but Ryan Valentini misses the net from the left circle.

Giants now heading to the powerplay...

Image source, Press Eye

After a quiet opening the Giants are beginning to build some pressure on Kevin Carr who has already made a couple of smart saves from Quinn Preston and Daniel Tedesco.

The puck is dropped on a new domestic season and we are playing hockey again...

Giants

G Tyler Beskorowany D Jacob Friend D Charlie Curti F Ara Nazarian F Quinn Preston F Greg Printz

Stars

G Kevin Carr D Drydn Dow D Craig Moore F Spencer Naas F Brendan Harms F Carter Johnson

Image source, Press Eye

After the start of their European adventure and a couple of pre-season exhibitions the domestic Elite League season gets underway this weekend.

Last season the Belfast Giants won the treble and tonight they begin the defence of the Challenge Cup with the first Group game against the Dundee Stars at the SSE Arena.

The Giants were rocked by the news this week that Elijah Barriga, formally of the Stars, would miss the season after being injured in the recent CHL clash against Bolzano.

They moved quickly to find a replacement and the former Coventry player Johnny Curran makes his Giants debut tonight.

The Stars under new coach Marc LeFebvre have just finished a two-week long training camp, which saw them play four exhibition games and come away with two victories as they split a double header against their biggest rivals, Fife Flyers and defeated Romanian side, MSC Corona Brasov 7-3 before falling 2-1 to Dutch club, Tilburg Trappers.

Image source, BBC Sport