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Belfast Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Every year feels more like home': Belfast Giants winger confirms return for sixth season
A day after line-mate Scott Conway was announced as the first returnee for the new season, the 33-year-old American has followed suit to complete two-thirds of the Giants' dynamic top line that is rounded out by dead-eye winger J.J. Piccinich. An experienced operator who has iced in the Finnish Liiga and Sweden's second division, the Allsvenskan, former Giants captain Goodwin has signed back for his sixth season with the organisation where he has become a fan favourite. And they will be relieved to see the No.64 on the roster from the start of the season rather than making a mid-season return, the St Louis native having re-joined the team midway through the last two campaigns, scoring five goals and 33 points in 33 games as the Giants won the Elite League and Challenge Cup double. Goodwin has been a serial winner in Belfast, lifting three League titles, three Cups and a Play-Off crown, and was the man with the 'C' on his jersey when the Giants clinched the Grand Slam in 2023. As well as that, the Penn State alum is no stranger to helping put the puck in the net having scored 79 goals and 266 points in 230 games for the Giants, a role he will likely be expected to assume again in the upcoming campaign. 'I'm really happy to be back in Belfast for another season. Every year I come back, it feels more and more like home. There's something special about playing here – the fans, the city, the pride that comes with putting on that jersey,' said Goodwin. "I'm excited about the group we're building and the opportunity to fight for trophies again. I know what this club is capable of, and I want to be part of bringing more success to Belfast.' Goodwin first joined the Giants in the Covid-19-shortened 2019/20 campaign as a mid-season acquisition from Allsvenskan outfit Mora IK, following two years with Liiga outfit SaiPa, and he would then return to the club for the 2021/22 season, this time as captain. His first season as the team's leader would see him lift the League and Cup double, but his third season at the SSE Arena was both statistically and in terms of silverware his best, Goodwin notching 23 goals and 95 points in 68 games as the team swept all before them on their way to a stunning Grand Slam success. Despite his success in Belfast, the winger shocked most people when it was announced he would be moving to Spanish side C.H. Jaca for the following season, but he would return to the Giants in January 2024, almost helping them to Play-Off joy only for them to fall short against the Sheffield Steelers. But his third mid-season arrival, in January just past after taking some time away from the game, proved to be his most successful in Belfast, Goodwin proving to be a massive boost as the team regained their League title and clinched another Cup crown. 'Goody is a pro in every sense. He brings a calm, focused presence to the locker room and delivers in big moments. He's played a huge role in our culture since arriving and continues to lead by example every day,' added Giants head coach Adam Keefe. "We know what we're getting with him – consistency, character, and a guy who does whatever it takes to win. I'm very pleased to have him back with us.'
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Alderson puts pen to paper for Flyers
London-born Mason Alderson has become Fife Flyers second signing under the new regime at The Fife Ice Arena. The British forward comes to the Kingdom following a two year, two-way stint between National Ice Hockey League side Solway Sharks and Elite League Champions, Belfast Giants. He has logged three appearances for Giants. The 23-year-old registered more than a point a game icing for Sharks last term, registering 21 goals and 28 assists in 43 appearances for the Dumfries side. And 6ft 3in Alderson said he is excited to be joining the Flyers. The player added: 'From what I've heard, it's a great organisation with a passionate fan base and a rich hockey history. I just can't wait to get started and play in front of the Flyers faithful.' He joins highly-rated netminder, Shane Owen, in the line-up and he started his career playing junior hockey between Romford, Guildford and Chelmsford. He then moved to North America, joining the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) side Islanders Hockey Club ahead of the 2018/19 season. Alderson went on to represent Berwick Academy, Hoosac School, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights and Castleton University before making the switch back to Britain. The Great Britain under-18 and under-20 player has accumulated 28 points in 20 appearances for his country. Included in those statistics are impressive numbers in 2018 when he was part of the under-18 Championship, Division II, Group A, winning side during the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World tournament in Estonia. He led the team in scoring with nine points (six goals and three assists) in five games and he was voted the tournament's best forward. Alderson was then named Great Britain's captain at the 2019 IIHF World under-18 Championship, Division I, Group B, tournament in Hungary. Max Birbraer, Flyers' president and general manager, said: 'When we heard Mason was still available we made an immediate move as it's absolutely vital for us to start building a core of British players and re-establishing ourselves as a balanced group. 'Mason is a young, talented, hard-nosed player who is an absolute pain in the opposition's back side. He fits our team template perfectly.' PICTURE: Alderson (right) in action for Belfast v Fife. Credit Wiliam Cherry/Press Eye and Elite League Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Elite Hibs prospect's title triumph perfect end to year of 'obstacles and adversity'
Youngest ever first-teamer bounced from loan spell to youth team in challenging campaign Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... One of Hibernian's most exciting prospects has been backed to recover from a season of setbacks – after producing the ideal response to falling out of the first-team reckoning. And Rory Whittaker's attitude to being dropped back into age-grade football has been hailed as an example to all young talents. The youngest debutant in club history, Whittaker was just 16 years and 44 days old when then-manager Nick Montgomery threw him into a home win over St Johnstone in September of 2023. He featured regularly as a substitute during Montgomery's eight months at the helm – and was rewarded with a three-year contract as Hibs looked to lock down a player seen as a future regular. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With Hibs overloaded in the right back position, however, David Gray sent Whittaker out on loan to Spartans – where the youngster had started his career as a schoolboy - at the beginning of last season in the hope of furthering his development. Although regularly used as a substitute, the teenager made just two starts for the SPFL League Two side. When he returned to Hibs in January, the club decided against another loan move – and dropped Whittaker back into the under-18s squad, where he played his part in helping Darren McGregor's team pull off a stunning Club Academy Scotland Elite League title triumph . His performances for the youth team confirmed the coaching staff's high opinion of a character backed to benefit from going through such adversity. Scottish Cup hero McGregor impressed with defender Former first-team stalwart McGregor, who said Whittaker could easily have consider himself 'above' the daily grind of under-18 football, was massively impressed, the Scottish Cup winner saying: 'I mean, that's learning for you, that's football, sometimes it happens that you have to take a step back. And I think Rory was excellent in the run-in and the big important games, he was really one of the guys that sort of took the bull by the horns. He's got that, he's a confident lad, nothing phases him. 'But he had that wee bit of adversity, obviously getting into the first team, dropping back out, going to Spartans. Then it not quite working out at Spartans, coming back to us - and then just knuckling down and working hard. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He could have quite easily said: 'I've been in the first team, I've been at Spartans, I'm above the 18s …' But he never did. He came back, worked hard and showed what a good player he is. 'All these little obstacles and adversity, for me, stand them in good stead when they get older because it's not always sunshine and rainbows. There's lots of peaks and there's lots of troughs as well. 'And I always say that to the lads, try to stay as close to centre as you can because you will get disappointments in football. People will have opinions about you. But if you believe in yourself and you keep working hard and show a can-do attitude, you've got half a chance. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I say to the older boys in our group, boys like Rory Whittaker, Dead Cleland and Joe McGrath, really all the 2007 group, that the younger lads look up to them. The '08s and '09s look up to you, so set the standard – and that inspires them to reach that standard, maybe even better.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Keefe siblings united by hockey despite Atlantic separation
When Adam Keefe signed up to play for the Belfast Giants in 2011, he couldn't have imagined how lifechanging that decision was going to be. He had been hoping to follow in his older brother Sheldon's footsteps and make it to the National Hockey League (NHL), the ultimate goal of every Canadian who laces up the skates. Advertisement Sheldon, four years older than Adam, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1999 and went on to make his NHL debut the following season, but ultimately his playing career was curtailed because of injury. "It's hard to get to the NHL and I was lucky enough to play at least some exhibition games and play at that level and get a taste of it," said Adam. "Ultimately, I fell short and was getting a little tired. I was getting a little older and I wanted to see the world and experience something new. "With our last name being Keefe, it was always a kind of a bucket list thing to visit the homeland. Advertisement "Finally, the opportunity came through a Facebook message from the coach of the Giants, Doug Christiansen. It was my first chance and I jumped on it. "I thought it would just be a one-year deal and I'd probably go back home and do ultimately what I did here, probably in Toledo." However, the younger Keefe sibling would never make that trip to Toledo. He won Elite League in his first season with the Giants and captained the side to another title victory in 2014. By then he was well established as a leader and a fan favourite, a team-mate that you could rely on to drop the gloves and defend his brothers on the ice. Advertisement Keefe's transition to coach in 2017 was a seamless move for the Giants. It kept the line of succession in place, despite no prior experience in the role. What followed has been the most sustained run of success in the club's twenty-five-year history. Ten trophies - four league championships, five Challenge Cups and a Play-off title - in six full seasons (two were lost due to Covid-19), including a Grand Slam in 2023. "I just fell in love with the city and winning and the fans here. Obviously, I met my wife and have two girls, so I'm locked into Northern Ireland. "It's been a great experience for me and a fun one." Advertisement Giants' fans echo mutual support for 'the heartbeat' of the Belfast side and they recently showed their appreciation at Adam's testimonial when his number 47 shirt was retired, the ultimate honour for a player. 'I wasn't going to mess with him much more' Sheldon made his first trip to Belfast for the event. Since his playing days came to an end, Adam's older brother made his way up through the coaching ranks all the way back to the NHL. He was head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2019-2024 and has just finished his first season in charge of the New Jersey Devils, leading them to the play-offs. Advertisement Sheldon's first impressions of Belfast have been favourable. "I love the city, just walking around and being here in the building and getting a feel for the hockey part of it. "You can see why there's so much passion here for Giants hockey and why Adam fell in love with the city and the team." Growing up together just outside of Toronto, both Keefe brothers were soon on the hockey pathway. "I don't know about brotherly rivalry so much," explained Sheldon. "I mean, there's maybe enough separation with four years that I think I had my way for a lot of the time. Advertisement "But it maybe contributed to some of the edge that he ended up developing in playing. "Certainly, as Adam got older, it was very clear I wasn't going to mess with him much more. "We were playing hockey, fighting in the basement, competing in the driveway and on the street and he quite often was playing with my friends and having to try to compete." Adam agreed, "A lot of times it's him and his friends playing street hockey and you're four years younger than those guys. "You got to work extra hard and sometimes you're going to get knocked down. "So, if you want to stay in there, you got to learn to fight back and I certainly did that. Advertisement "Obviously, he's provided a great example for me and set a very high standard that is difficult to try to keep up with. "He took care of me through critical years when I was a teenager and set me on a good path. "Then to follow his career while I was trying to make the NHL, to follow his coaching career and see that he just kind of kept winning right from the time he started. "Then ultimately to claw his way back to the NHL as a coach becoming one of the youngest coaches in the league and then to coach arguably the biggest hockey club in the world. That's very special." 'His life is all about the hockey' Adam's success as a coach has come as no surprise to Sheldon. In his words, "life's been all about hockey". Advertisement "I think we can both say we would be a little lost without the game. "If I look at my own transition into coaching, when you maybe first get into it, for me, at least, I didn't know what I was doing at all. "But you're relying on your competitiveness, your passion for the game, your work ethic, all the things that help you play at a high level, and that gives you a strong foundation. "I knew Adam was going to commit and be all in on everything that he's doing and while learning and refining any skills that you need as a coach, you're going to have the respect of your players because of everything that you put in to help them and the team. Advertisement "He's been an absolute competitor and a guy that will do anything to win for his entire life." Sheldon has helped Adam out with player recruitment and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Belfast as a playing destination. "I've followed enough to know the standard of the Elite League and that it just continues to improve and get better and better. "Seeing the arena and seeing the city and community, it would be a great draw for players to come and get the life experience but still play great hockey. "As I watch the young kids playing as well, there is lots of excitement about growing the game here too." Advertisement Despite enjoying his Testimonial weekend where the Giants once again gave back to the community raising over £109,000 for the Northern Ireland Hospice, the new season is never far from Adam's mind. "Champions League is right around the corner. "August is going to come around pretty quick, and nobody cares about last year.'
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Keefe siblings united by hockey despite Atlantic separation
When Adam Keefe signed up to play for the Belfast Giants in 2011, he couldn't have imagined how lifechanging that decision was going to had been hoping to follow in his older brother Sheldon's footsteps and make it to the National Hockey League (NHL), the ultimate goal of every Canadian who laces up the four years older than Adam, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1999 and went on to make his NHL debut the following season, but ultimately his playing career was curtailed because of injury."It's hard to get to the NHL and I was lucky enough to play at least some exhibition games and play at that level and get a taste of it," said Adam."Ultimately, I fell short and was getting a little tired. I was getting a little older and I wanted to see the world and experience something new."With our last name being Keefe, it was always a kind of a bucket list thing to visit the homeland."Finally, the opportunity came through a Facebook message from the coach of the Giants, Doug Christiansen. It was my first chance and I jumped on it."I thought it would just be a one-year deal and I'd probably go back home and do ultimately what I did here, probably in Toledo." However, the younger Keefe sibling would never make that trip to won Elite League in his first season with the Giants and captained the side to another title victory in then he was well established as a leader and a fan favourite, a team-mate that you could rely on to drop the gloves and defend his brothers on the transition to coach in 2017 was a seamless move for the Giants. It kept the line of succession in place, despite no prior experience in the followed has been the most sustained run of success in the club's twenty-five-year trophies - four league championships, five Challenge Cups and a Play-off title - in six full seasons (two were lost due to Covid-19), including a Grand Slam in 2023."I just fell in love with the city and winning and the fans here. Obviously, I met my wife and have two girls, so I'm locked into Northern Ireland."It's been a great experience for me and a fun one."Giants' fans echo mutual support for 'the heartbeat' of the Belfast side and they recently showed their appreciation at Adam's testimonial when his number 47 shirt was retired, the ultimate honour for a player. 'I wasn't going to mess with him much more' Sheldon made his first trip to Belfast for the event. Since his playing days came to an end, Adam's older brother made his way up through the coaching ranks all the way back to the was head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2019-2024 and has just finished his first season in charge of the New Jersey Devils, leading them to the first impressions of Belfast have been favourable."I love the city, just walking around and being here in the building and getting a feel for the hockey part of it."You can see why there's so much passion here for Giants hockey and why Adam fell in love with the city and the team."Growing up together just outside of Toronto, both Keefe brothers were soon on the hockey pathway."I don't know about brotherly rivalry so much," explained Sheldon."I mean, there's maybe enough separation with four years that I think I had my way for a lot of the time."But it maybe contributed to some of the edge that he ended up developing in playing."Certainly, as Adam got older, it was very clear I wasn't going to mess with him much more."We were playing hockey, fighting in the basement, competing in the driveway and on the street and he quite often was playing with my friends and having to try to compete."Adam agreed, "A lot of times it's him and his friends playing street hockey and you're four years younger than those guys."You got to work extra hard and sometimes you're going to get knocked down."So, if you want to stay in there, you got to learn to fight back and I certainly did that."Obviously, he's provided a great example for me and set a very high standard that is difficult to try to keep up with."He took care of me through critical years when I was a teenager and set me on a good path."Then to follow his career while I was trying to make the NHL, to follow his coaching career and see that he just kind of kept winning right from the time he started."Then ultimately to claw his way back to the NHL as a coach becoming one of the youngest coaches in the league and then to coach arguably the biggest hockey club in the world. That's very special." 'His life is all about the hockey' Adam's success as a coach has come as no surprise to Sheldon. In his words, "life's been all about hockey"."I think we can both say we would be a little lost without the game."If I look at my own transition into coaching, when you maybe first get into it, for me, at least, I didn't know what I was doing at all."But you're relying on your competitiveness, your passion for the game, your work ethic, all the things that help you play at a high level, and that gives you a strong foundation."I knew Adam was going to commit and be all in on everything that he's doing and while learning and refining any skills that you need as a coach, you're going to have the respect of your players because of everything that you put in to help them and the team."He's been an absolute competitor and a guy that will do anything to win for his entire life."Sheldon has helped Adam out with player recruitment and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Belfast as a playing destination."I've followed enough to know the standard of the Elite League and that it just continues to improve and get better and better."Seeing the arena and seeing the city and community, it would be a great draw for players to come and get the life experience but still play great hockey."As I watch the young kids playing as well, there is lots of excitement about growing the game here too."Despite enjoying his Testimonial weekend where the Giants once again gave back to the community raising over £109,000 for the Northern Ireland Hospice, the new season is never far from Adam's mind."Champions League is right around the corner."August is going to come around pretty quick, and nobody cares about last year.'
