Kingdom Of The Giants :: Belfast Giants Fan Community, News & Views
Challenge Cup Final - First Leg
08-Mar-2009 | Discuss this ArticleManchester Phoenix v Belfast Giants
Coverage from 5.15pm - Click Here
Paul Kruse skated to the presentation table, placed his hands on the Icy Smith Cup and raised it high above his head towards the Giants fans in the block behind the players benches within the National Ice Centre in Nottingham. It was the last game of the ISL era, the Giants being the last Playoff Champions of the ISL era and having just missed out on the league title, Dave Whistles last Giants side picked up a trophy in a cup competition for the first time in their history.
That was 2003, and tonight, almost 6 years on from that day, Player/Coach Steve Thornton, a member of that 2003 Playoff winning side, brings his Giants side to Manchester for the first major cup final since that victory over the London Knights, and the first Challenge Cup Final since the ill fated 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Ayr Scottish Eagles in 2002.
Tails will be up among the Giants camp having last night dispatched the Cardiff Devils to reach the Knock Out Cup final, also to face the Phoenix. Thus tonights game is the first of 4 Cup final games against a side coached by former Giants Player/Coach Tony Hand.
Paul Deniset will travel to Altringham hoping to continue his rich vein of scoring in Lancashire. 3 Hat-Tricks from 3 visits means the Manchester defense will be keeping a close eye on Deniset. While the Giants D will have their hands full with the leagues top scorer David-Alexandre Beauregard, 98 points from 57 games on a line in which all 3 players are in the top ten point scorers in the league. Tony Hand and Luke Flugham have proved tough opponents for the Giants in recent match-ups.
The Giants will be hoping to put a good performance in against the Phoenix and bring them back for a showpiece final in Dundonald Ice Bowl on St Patricks Day.
You can follow the game with the live text updates from KotG. Join Marty from around 5.15pm.
Patrick Smyth
Live Scores
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League Standings
| 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 |
Giants' Stat Leaders
| Points | Robert Dowd | 78 |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Robert Dowd | 40 |
| Assists | Craig Peacock | 49 |
| PIM | Adam Keefe | 247 |