Review of the Decade... Part Two.

Last week we looked at the first half of the decade, this week we move on to the second half, before concluding with my Giant of the decade top 3. Reviews always have to have lists, don’t they?

Coming into season 6 of the Giants existence yet another coaching change occurred as Tony Hand departed and Ed Courtenay, a former Sheffield Steeler and Ayr Eagle, was appointed as player-coach. However this was not the biggest story of the off season. As the start of the year approached rumours that some guy called Theo Fleury was going to sign began circulating. The majority laughed, but, due to his links with then Giants owner Jim Yaworski, it was true – Theo was to become a Giant.

However we were made to wait for the excitement as Theo was unable to arrive until the season was already underway. This led to what felt like a phoney war as all the anticipation of Theo’s debut built. The team however dealt with it well putting up 5 wins in those first 9 games including a short cameo by Matt Reid who scored 4 goals in 7 games keeping Fleury’s skates warm. The main drama of this early season however was goaltender injuries. New started Mike Minard hurt himself leaving back up Chris McGimpsey to fill in, however he too was hurt while celebrating on the bench and a last minute replacement was found in Nathan Craze. Craze backstopped the team to some crucial victories and began an association with the team which continues today to a very successful level. Jason Ruff also returned for a third season as a Giant before leaving half way through the year due to injury. Scottish forward Colin Shields, only the second British player ever to be drafted, was attracted back across the Atlantic and played an integral role in pushing the Giants towards the title.

The Edinburgh Capitals were the visitors to the O on October 15th 2005 as an overweight and unfit Theo Fleury laced up for the first time. During the summer, I recall saying to people I would believe Fleury was coming to play for us when he skated out onto the ice. 3 goals, including one with his second touch after he won a face-off on the second shift of the game, 4 assists, and a fight with Caps tough guy Oduya and I was beginning to believe!

The main story of the season was clearly Fleury. He was the talk of the league for reasons both good and bad. He racked up points at an astonishing level averaging over 2 points per game, and found particular delight in setting up team mates. In a game against Basingstoke as the Giants began to lose their grip on a league title that should surely have been theirs, Fleury skated to centre ice, raising his arms to pump up the crowd inspiring the team to a 6-4 win.

The rivalry with Coventry continued to grow as reports of abuse from fans towards Theo in relation to his past came through, and Theo’s displeasure at the standard of officiating in the league was announced vociferously on several occasions.

The Giants first Elite League title, and second ever British league title came down to a game against Cardiff, the chance to claim a title on home ice. It wasn’t to be, and in a scene that would have made original Giants coach Dave Whistle proud, Ed Courtenay showered the ice with sticks from the bench as the Giants failed to pick up the win before lobbing his gloves out from the changing room resulting in a ban. The title was eventually claimed as nearest challengers Coventry lost in Edinburgh, a somewhat underwhelming finish. The now traditional end of season meltdown was somewhat overturned as the Giants made it to the finals weekend. However, a poor performance in the semi final saw the Newcastle Vipers progress to the final and Giants fans interest end on Saturday.

For season 7 in 2006/7, player-coach Ed Courtenay gave up playing and several changes were made, as attempts to replace Fleury were carried out. Long time Steeler Mark Dutiaume came in to centre the top line, and big scoring Jeff Hutchins arrived from rivals Coventry Blaze. Returning for a 4th season was Jason Ruff after his injury problems of the previous year.

It was to be another tough battle with the Coventry Blaze, with former Blaze man Hutchins scoring a hat trick to beat the Blaze 3-0 in one of the highlights of the year. Sadly consistency was a problem and such results were not frequent enough. Injury problems led to the replacement of Mike Minard with Phil DeRouville. Added to this, a loss of team form led Courtenay to come out of retirement, at the expense of Curtis Huppe, but it was too little too late and once more the Giants were runners up the Blaze leaving it just a little too late to catch up.

The playoffs saw a new format for this year, with the top 8 from the league going into 2 legged quarter finals. Belfast drew Basingstoke and the games were played over consecutive nights. For a second successive season Belfast made it to the final four and with each quarter final still being open in the second leg, many called the new format a success.

The Giants faced Nottingham in the semi final, in a game of few chances it ended 1-1 and after OT went to a shootout, which the Giants managed to lose, once more going home at the semi final stage. This left a final of Nottingham v Cardiff who defeated Coventry in the other semi final. The final ended in a draw with the Panthers winning again on penalty shots and thus claiming the playoff title by virtue of winning 3 penalty shootouts as their quarter final had also ended in stalemate against Sheffield.

Ed Courtenay returned for a third season as coach in 2007/8, intending to play from the start. DeRouville was kept on after his hot form had led to a league chasing charge the previous year, and several other changes were made. The Giants played Swedish side Huddinge in Dundalk, a precursor to playing some league games here due to lack of ice time in the Odyssey, a move that was highly controversial among much of the fan base. Todd Kelman now in charge as the full time GM not only had to deal with this fan fallout but also suited up for several games as injury cover early in the year.

The year started disastrously, with DeRouville struggling to find the form of the previous year, and some of the new signings seeming to struggle. The poor start had the Giants bottom of the table and no sign of where a win would come from could be seen. Fortunately for the Giants, Basingstoke hit trouble and, due to being unable to pay players, Stevie Lyle the British goalie, and Pete Campbell became available. Ryan Smith, despite putting up points had not impressed and was released, former Storm player Neumeier was also ditched and DeRouville was shown the door to make way for Lyle.

These changes did the trick and after a franchise record 16 game win streak, the Giants had moved from bottom to top of the league occupying every spot in the table on their run. Pete Campbell was a gold nugget as he notched up 39 goals in just 47 games after his move playing on a highly effective line with coach Courtenay who led the team in points. This was to be Courtenay’s last year in charge, and despite his prowess as a player, questions always remained over his coaching ability. After the ups and downs, the Giants finished 4th, their lowest place since the year after the demise of the ISL and the associated financial difficulties/

In the playoff, the Giants drew the Newcastle Vipers, and in a disastrous performance in Dundalk went into the second leg 5-3 down. A stirring fight back the following night led to a 3-1 win, but with OT unable to separate the sides, once more the Giants succumbed in a shootout leaving the fans to look forward to a stress free weekend at the finals weekend with no team to support once more!

The final full season of the decade, Season 9 began with another change of coach with Steve Thornton, who had been instrumental in the Giants playoff winning side when he came in mid season, returning as yet another player coach. The change of coach and disappointment of the previous year saw many changes in playing personnel. The season began in Dundalk, but only friendly games would be played there as Dundonald Ice Bowl stepped up when required.

Stevie Lyle returned for a second season in goal while his Welsh compatriot, Nathan Craze, returned in as his back up. The defence was overhauled and saw high scoring Mike Burgoyne arrive to add punch from the blueline, something the previous year had lacked. Strong impacts were made from Andrew Martin who scored a hat trick on debut, but his season, like the season in general was to be blighted by injury. Other big name signings Bobby Robins, a tough power forward, and Paul Deniset were both to miss significant game time. Colin Shields returned full time and led the team in scoring, but Paul Deniset was the main man. He achieved a unique feat scoring 3 hat tricks in 3 games in Manchester on his way to 38 goals on the season. The season couldn't pass without controversy and this came about in the form of one of the injury replacements. The highly skilled players were replaced by Jason Rushton in a move which once more invited debate. Rushton was clearly a good player in the past, but seemed to be brought in for only one reason, and spent many a game trying to wind up and fight the opposition. He did however, claim one important game winning goal and entertain many of the Odyssey faithful!

The Sheffield Steelers followed up their playoff winning season of the year before by running away with the league. The Giants once more failed in the playoffs. But this was not to be a season of disappointment. The Challenge Cup, a competition in which the Giants had a poor history, was claimed with a win in the 2 legged final over Manchester Phoenix, the home leg being played in Dundonald to a packed crowd. Manchester also provided the opposition for the Knock Out Cup - a competition the Giants had failed to play in the previous 2 years, and once more the team came away with the silverware adding two trophies to the cabinet and ending the decade on somewhat of a high.

Let’s hope it’s the first of many!

Aaron’s Giants of the Decade

1 – Todd Kelman, player, point scorer, championship winner and GM. My Giant of the decade.

2- Paxton Schulte, the man who helped put the franchise on the map, he is still the first a lot of non Giants fans ask about.

3 – Rob Stewart, a superb player, a coach who took over and led through a tough spot after financial difficulties and still to be found as an assistant coach and bench coach, along with coaching the juniors who may end up on the roster in years to come.

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