On a night where they did not have to break a sweat, or shed any blood or tears, this evening the Coors Belfast Giants were crowned the Elite Ice Hockey League Champions for the first time. Former Giants player/coach Tony Hand guided his Edinburgh Capitals to a surprise 5-2 win over the in-form Newcastle Vipers, which meant that the Vipers could not catch the Giants in the title race.
The Belfast Giants can now afford to take the last two league games relatively easy, particularly considering they are carrying injuries, and are also possibly missing two key players from the next game.
It has been a long eventful rollercoaster of a season, with players coming and going. But one thing has remained constant. The Belfast Giants were top of the league from the very start of the season to the finish.
Tonight is also the last full night for voting for the Kingdom Of The Giants Player Of The Year, voting closes tomorrow, and with that in mind, anyone who has not yet voted should cast an eye over the whole team and consider their choice carefully. Many votes have been cast, but there are still more votes to come. Dont be afraid to choose someone out of the ordinary! You may not be alone in your thinking!
The KotG Player Of The Year award will be presented after one of the home playoff games at the end of March.
| P | TEAM | GP | W(OT) | L(OT) | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giants | 54 | 46(0) | 5(3) | 95 |
| 2 | Steelers | 54 | 41(0) | 11(2) | 84 |
| 3 | Panthers | 54 | 38(0) | 12(4) | 80 |
| 4 | Devils | 54 | 32(0) | 12(10) | 74 |
| 5 | Blaze | 54 | 32(0) | 20(2) | 66 |
| 6 | Clan | 54 | 31(0) | 19(4) | 66 |
| 7 | Stingrays | 54 | 16(0) | 34(4) | 36 |
| 8 | Stars | 54 | 13(0) | 35(6) | 32 |
| 9 | Capitals | 54 | 13(0) | 37(4) | 30 |
| 10 | Flyers | 54 | 8(0) | 40(6) | 22 |
| Points | Robert Dowd | 78 |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Robert Dowd | 40 |
| Assists | Craig Peacock | 49 |
| PIM | Adam Keefe | 247 |