Belfast Giants have unveiled two limited edition jerseys, designed to mark the club’s 25th anniversary.
The club say that the new jerseys “incorporate a limited-edition design to mark 25 seasons of Belfast’s passion for ice hockey”. They boast a mixture of new design elements as well as old, paying homage to the club’s storied recent history.
December 2 marked the 25th anniversary of the club’s first-ever home game against the Ayr Scottish Eagles, in front of a sell-out crowd of 7,300 at the newly-built SSE Arena.
🗓️ 0⃣2⃣ / 1⃣2⃣ / 2⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣
On this day, in December 2000, the @BelfastGiants played their first ever home game. pic.twitter.com/PSLWsxEBZQ
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) December 2, 2024
The Giants have won much silverware since their inception – 14 major honours in total, including seven British league championships, three British championships courtesy of winning the play-offs, and five Challenge Cups.
The y have been crowned Elite League champions in three of the last four seasons, losing their title to Sheffield Steelers last season. The Giants also claimed a famous treble in 2022/23, for the first time in the club’s history.
Testimonial announced for club legend
Photo credit: Belfast Giants
A special testimonial game, in honour of Giants stalwart and current head coach Adam Keefe, has also been confirmed.
The fixture, which is set for Sunday 8 June at the SSE Arena, will celebrate Keefe’s dedication to the Giants, which has spanned more than a decade.
Keefe first arrived on UK shores in 2011. During his time at the club, he played more than 300 games and went from player to captain, before taking the reins as head coach in 2017 following the departure of Derrick Walser.
He has gone on to lead the team to eight pieces of silverware, and the Giants say the testimonial fixture will celebrate Keefe’s “remarkable contributions”, describing him as “a true icon of ice hockey in Belfast”.
“It’s an incredible honour to receive a testimonial game by the Belfast Giants,” he said.
“The club, the fans, and the city itself have been such a massive part of my life, on and off the ice, and I’m proud to call Belfast my home.
“I’m truly humbled by this recognition and look forward to celebrating this special occasion with friends, family, and everyone who has supported me throughout my journey here in Belfast.”
Commemorative sculpture unveiled
👀 Today, on the anniversary of our first-ever home game at @SSEBelfastArena, look at what’s appeared at the home of the Belfast Giants…
As if dropped from the sky by Finn McCool himself, this sculpture is an act of permanency, marking 25 seasons of our club and all of the… pic.twitter.com/7oeHLOZo6d
— Belfast Giants (@BelfastGiants) December 2, 2024
To mark the anniversary of their first home game, a four metre tall puck-shaped sculpture has been unveiled outside the entrance of the SSE Arena.
Revealed by the Odyssey Trust on Monday, the official 25th anniversary of their home debut, the sculpture is emblazoned with the words, “in the land of Giants, everyone is equal”, as well as, “they said it wouldn’t last” on the reverse.
The Giants have played more than 1,000 home and away games over the course of the last 25 years, welcoming millions of ice hockey supporters to the Northern Irish capital during that time.
Martin McDowell, chair of The Odyssey Trust, said: “This installation is not only a celebration of the Giants’ 25th season, but is the perfect way to kickstart the Odyssey Trust’s 25th anniversary year.
“Across the entirety of the Odyssey Trust, making a real, genuine, and long-lasting impact on the lives of people in Northern Ireland remains at the heart of everything we do, and for 25 years, our foundations have been firmly rooted within our local communities.
“Throughout 2025, we have an exciting series of celebratory events that will take place across Odyssey, honouring the Trust’s significant economic, social and societal impact as we look ahead to the future with a renewed sense of pride and purpose.”
