Rob Stewart was one of the original Belfast Giants players to follow Dave Whistle from the Bracknell Bees. A solid, old school D-man, he brought a lot of experience to the side, along with a thunderbolt of a blue line shot.

The dawn of the EIHL saw the dawn of a new Rob Stewart. The elder statesman of the ISL, having played in every ISL game which he had been eligible for, decided to hang up his skates and try life behind the bench.

However, early season player shortages, unexpected departures and a string of injuries, saw the coach having put his skates back on more than once in that season. The team struggled to put together convicing performances on the ice and rumours began to circulate of problems in the locker room.

A fourth place finish in the league and subsequent failure to qualify for the playoff finals weekend, led to the Giants' Management deciding not to renew Stewart's contract for a second season.

Unfortunately, for many Giants fans, Rob's talents and successes as a player are now overshadowed by his lack of success in a single season as the team's coach

In 2005 Rob returned to the ice for the Belfast Giants, acting as cover for the injured Shane Johnson. He remained with the Giants on Johnsons return when further injury problems dogged the team and is playing some of the best hockey of his career to prove that there are some things in life you never lose.