The Coors Belfast Giants shocked the Coventry Blaze tonight at home in the Odyssey Arena with a 3-1 win over their rivals to leapfrog the Blaze into second place in the Elite League standings.

The Giants were without leading scorer Paul Deniset and his linemates Andrew Martin and Bobby Robins who had combined for 44 goals so far this season. All three were in the stands, out with injuries and although the Giants were short-staffed, they stepped up to the plate with their most important victory of the season so far.

Davey Phillips opened the scoring when he picked up the puck at the blueline and walked into the middle of the ice, firing home a cannon of a shot over the shoulder of J F Perras in net for the Blaze at 9:25 of the first period. Six minutes later, it was the Giants again, this time Evan Cheverie finishing off a Paul Sample pass at 15:32 to make it 2-0 Giants going into the second period. Both teams had plenty of opportunities to score in the second frame but Stevie Lyle in net for the Giants and Perras for the Blaze both stood tall. With less than a minute remaining in the second period the Blaze finally converted, courtesy of Adam Calder who tipped in a shot from Jonathan Weaver to make it 2-1 going into the third.

The Blaze and Giants traded powerplay opportunities in the third but neither team could take advantage with the extra man. The Blaze were pressing hard, but Lyle stopped everything they threw at him. The final nail in the coffin came with five minutes remaining when Steve Thornton took advantage of a missed call that the Blaze protested when George Awada looked like he tripped Danny Stewart. Thornton picked up the puck and skated in on Perras and made no mistakes, putting the puck top shelf over Perras”””” shoulder to lock up the win.

Thornton was pleased with the effort from his team and praised the efforts of the entire squad.

“Every guy stepped up BIG TIME, that was our best effort of the season. The guys made no excuses, they just went out and got the job done. It wasn””””t easy, that was a great team we faced tonight, but I am proud of the entire team tonight. I asked them to raise their game to another level and they did just that.”

Period Scores: 2-0,0-1, 1-0
Penalty Mins: 8-30
Powerplay: Bel 0/5 - Cov 0/4
Shots On: Stevie Lyle 22 - JF Perras 43
Referee: D. Smith

Coors Giants Deliver some Capital Punishment…

Posted on Saturday, September 27th, 2008 at 11:14 pm

The Coors Belfast Giants fought off a late game surge from the Edinburgh Capitals to hold on to a 4-3 win at the Odyssey Arena on Saturday Night. The Capitals actually opened the scoring with 7 minutes left in the first period when Ross Dalgleish scored to make it 1-0 at 13:15. George Awada answered back for the Giants less than 2 minutes later when he finished off a great pass from Paul Deniset to even the scoreline. The Giants took the lead at 18:26 of the first when Colin Shields fired in a great pass from Mike Burgoyne to give Belfast the lead going into the break.

If it hadn’t been for the outstanding play in net for the Capitals by Michel Robinson, the scoreline could have been even more one-sided. The Edinburgh netminder faced 21 shots in the first period alone, with the Giants adding another 15 in the second. They had the edge in shots but the only goal of the second period came off the stick of Martin Cingel who evened the scoreline at 37:24.

It took only three minutes into the third period for the Giants to regain the lead for good when Paul Deniset deflected in a Graeme Walton slapshot to make it 3-2 before Shane Johnson made it 4-2 when he fired in a nifty pass from Steve Thornton at 52:34. The Capitals didn’t quit and at 55:15, they scored one back to make it 4-3 thanks to player/coach Doug Christiansen, but despite a hectic last two minutes of Edinburgh pressure, the Giants held on to win 4-3.

Man of the match performances by Robinson in goal for the Capitals who stopped 48 of 52 shots and by Shane Johnson who was up front on forward and scored the game winner for the Giants.

Period Scores: 2-1, 0-1, 2-1
Penalty Mins: Bel 10 - Edi 36
Powerplay: Bel 0/5 - Edi 0/2
Shots On: Stevie Lyle 18 - Mike Robinson 52
Referee: D. Smith

Shields leads the way as Giants win in Basingstoke…

Posted on Sunday, September 28th, 2008 at 8:22 pm

The Coors Belfast Giants wrapped up a perfect weekend with a convincing road win over the Basingstoke Bison on Sunday night. The Giants dominated from the start, with Colin Shields scoring a hat-trick on route to an 8-1 trouncing of the short-handed Bison.

Shields put the Giants up by two in the opening ten minutes of the game, before Paul Deniset made it 3-0 with the Bison two men down killing a 5 on 3 powerplay for the Giants. Shane Johnson, with his second goal in as many games, made it 4-0 with another powerplay goal to give the Giants a comfortable lead heading into the first period break.

The Giants continued to dominate play in the second period and again it was Colin Shields who was served up with a perfect pass by player/coach Steve Thornton to complete his hat trick. Next was local legend Mark Morrison who made it 6-0 with a nice slapshot from just inside the Bison blueline before Basingstoke pulled one back courtesy of Shaun Thompson off of a well scripted face-off play to make it 6-1.

Despite a couple good chances on the powerplay for Basingstoke, including just under a minute with a 5-3 advantage, they couldn’t penetrate the Giants penalty kill, which looked strong all night long.

Coach Thornton pulled Stevie Lyle to give Nathan Craze some well deserved playing time, and the Bison tested him early but not even a Brent Hughes breakaway could spoil the night for the young netminder. Craze looked superb for the remainder of the game, particularly when the Giants were a man down.

Paul Sample rounded off the scoring in the second period giving the Giants a 7-1 lead going into the third with the lone goal of the final period coming from an unlikely source. Defenceman Graeme Walton scored his first goal of the season with a blistering slapshot to make it 8-1 and complete the scoring for the Giants.

A great road victory against a depleted Bison team that are still waiting for an import signing and also were playing two players down due to suspensions handed out by the Elite League on Brad Cruickshank and Curtiss Patrick during the past week.

A Man of the Match performance for hat trick hero Colin Shields and three goals from three players scoring their first goals of the season; Sample, Morrison and Walton. In all, six different scorers in this textbook win for the first place Giants.

Period Scores: 0-4 1-3, 0-1
Penalty Mins: Bas 8 - Bel 6
Powerplay: Bas 0/3 - Bel 3/4
Shots On: Kevin Reiter 39 – Stevie Lyle 23 Nathan Craze 21
Referee: Nigel Boniface

• Belfast Giants vs Basingstoke Bison, W 6-3
• Giants Goals: Robins, Johnson, Shields, Howells (2), Deniset
• Bison Goals: Cruikshanks (2), Bowers

The Giants came into this midweek game, moved to Wednesday night to allow for Sky Sports coverage, on the back of their best ever start to a season with 4 wins from 4 games played, and plenty of goals notched up already.

It was the Basingstoke Bison however who started the brighter as Belfast failed to test Kevin Reither in the Bison goal who only arrived in the UK today after Visa problems. The Bison looked composed early on without really threatening, and Stevie Lyle had to be alert to turn away a couple of decent chances.

After the Giants killed off an early penalty, referee Nigel Boniface soon gave the home side a power play chance, and continuing to show how lethal it has been in the early going, Bobby Robins fired home a great shot from a tight angle at 4.54 to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

Despite then having the better of the play, it took until 16.41 of the period when Shane Johnson found himself all alone in the slot and with a fake shot then big slap shot he beat Reiter from 20 feet out to make it 2-0, which was how the period ended.The Giants continued to pressure in the second but couldn't find a way past Reiter who was facing a lot of rubber - 16 shots in the first period. However despite managing to turn one of the many shots away, Colin Shields was in prime position after 25.08 to force a rebound under Reiter on the backhand to make it 3-0.

The impressive Graeme Walton blotted his book when taking a needless interference call which allowed the Bison to pull one back soon after, Brad Cruickshank taking advantage and sneaking the puck past Stevie Lyle despite his stacked pad save attempt to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The lethal Giants power play came to the party once more, when Tyler Howells (pictured) opened his goal account for the Giants with a somewhat fortunate goal 34.24 into the game. His big slapshot was not dealt with well at all by debutant Reiter who let it slip under his right pad - a shot he really should have saved and a surprise to Howells who barely celebrated. And from the re-start face off, the Giants added another goal just 21 seconds later when Paul Deniset took George Awada's pass and made it 5-1 to end the second period.

The Giants came out flat for the start of the 3rd, perhaps thinking the game was won and were kicked back to life by an early double strike by the Bison. First Ross Bowers somehow snuck one home past Stevie Lyle from a very acute angle only 1.26 into the period and Brad Cruikshank added his second 40 seconds later to cut the deficit to just 5-3 and swing the momentum the way of the Bison with still a long 17 minutes to play.

Any worries the small but vocal home crowd may have had were quickly dispelled as the Giants picked up the tempo again . First Bobby Robins had the puck in the net but the goal was washed out due to the keeper having made the initial save with his face mask. Brad Cruickshank's reaction to Robins playing a rebound after the whistle was not the most friendly exchange of views of the evening and resulted in 2 minutes for roughing. Once more the Giants went to the power play and once more the PP unit was successful. Colin Shields found Tyler Howells who unleashed another shot from the blue line and this time there was no doubt as the puck went through a well worked screen provided by George Awada and found the top corner to make it 6-3 and a fistful of wins from the Giants to start the season.

The Coors Belfast Giants made in 2 from 2 in their BMI Baby Elite League campaign as they rolled out 8-2 winners after taking on the Newcastle Vipers in the Odyssey arena on Saturday night. Special teams were the story of the evening with 9 of the 10 goals coming with a man advantage.

The Giants opened the scoring with Evan Cheverie netting a one time shot on a feed from defenceman Tyler Howells just 3 minutes into the game.

The Vipers then equalised with a powerplay marker of their own as Rob Wilson and Todd Griffith created the play and Burt Henderson shot the puck past Stevie Lyle and it was game on.

The Giants lead was restored at 9.20 when Cheverie turned provider feeding the puck to player coach Steve Thornton who netted past Verner in the Vipers goal. With the end of the first approaching the Giants padded their lead with a brace from Bobby Robins heading to the locker room with a 4-1 lead.

The Giants quick puck movement on the powerplay was tormenting the Vipers penalty killers all evening. With Marek Ivan in the penalty box looking on Evan Cheverie added his second of the evening, ripping a one time slap shot into the roof of the net with the assists going to Steve Thornton and Colin Shields.

With 52 seconds remaining in the second period Cheverie completed his hat-trick with a carbon copy of the previous goal, again ripping the puck from the top of the circle into the roof of the net to give the Giants a 6-1 lead going into the intermission.

Paul Deniset made it 7-1 as he capitalised on a broken play with the Vipers defencemen again shorthanded failing to clear the zone.

The Vipers trying to restore some momentum set about agitating Giants #25 Bobby Robins. The hitting was getting fierce and George Awada took exception to a late hit from behind on line mate Paul Sample from Vipers goon Andre Payette. Both players sat 2 mins for roughing with an additional 2 going to Payette for the hit from behind.

At this point with the game firmly in the Giants grasp the Vipers replaced Verner with backup netminder Ritchie Lawson. The Giants followed suit and gave Nathan Craze the remaining 16mins of the game.

Vipers marksman Todd Griffith added a second powerplay goal for the Vipers with assists going to Rob Wilson and David Longstaff.

Lawson was just getting comfortable in the Vipers goal when Cheverie netted his 4th of the evening again on the powerplay with assists going to George Awada and Steve Thornton. This proved to be the final straw for the Vipers and as the Giants were celebrating a few taunts were thrown towards the Giants bench.

A scuffle broke out infront of the Giants bench and as the players squared off a number of fights broke out simultaneously. Mark Morrison and Jez Ludin went at it, George Awada and Derek Campbell renewed acquaintances, and Graeme Walton and Dean Holland threw off the mitts and went toe to toe at center ice.

The resulting penalties saw 7 fighting majors and Vipers player coach Rob Wilson assessed a 10 min misconduct and an additional game misconduct for failing to control his bench.

Another impressive win for Steve Thornton and the Coors Belfast Giants as they travel to Hull tomorrow to face the Stingrays before hosting the Basingstoke Bison at the Odyssey on Wednesday evening. Sky Sports will be at hand with the game being broadcast on Sky Sports Xtra on Friday 19th. Get your tickets today from the Odyssey Arena Box Office or at all Ticketmaster outlets and who knows, you could end up to TV.

Period Scores: 4-1, 2-0, 2-1
Penalty Mins: 29-72
Powerplay: Bel 7/10 - New 2/5
Shots On: Stevie Lyle 11, Nathan Craze 8 / Andrew Verner 34, Ritchie Lawson 12
Referee: Tom Darnell

The Coors Belfast Giants made it back to back wins this weekend after deafting the Edinburgh Capitals 4-1 in their Challenge Cup game at Murrayfield on Sunday evening. Having edged the Cardiff Devils 5-3 on Saturday , the Giants took a trip across the Irish Sea for their second game in as many days.

Energised after a win over the Sheffield Steelers, the Edinburgh Capitals came out firing on all cylinders taking an early lead. With the Giants down to three men, Capitals coach Doug Christiansen sent Mark Hurtubise away and the forward laid the puck off to Rajcak who beat Stevie Lyle for the opening goal at 10:20.

Rajcak’s goal was to be the difference between the two teams until midway through the second period when speedy winger Paul Deniset forced a turnover at centre ice and tallyed a shorthanded marker by beating Pasi Raitenan on the resulting breakaway.

Seven minutes later the Coors Giants took hold of the lead when ‘Triple R’ Bobby Robins found the back of the net, bashing the puck home after a scramble in front of the Capitals goal.

The Giants proved to be too much for the Capitals in the final frame with their tiring legs being unable to keep up with the speedy Belfast side. Scottish forward Colin Shields took full advantage of this by skipping through the Edinburgh defence and roofing the puck on the backhand to give the Giants a 3-1 lead at 41:08.

Despite valiant efforts, the Capitals were unable to find a way past Stevie Lyle in the Giants goal and with 59 seconds remaining Bobby Robins put the game out of reach with his 7th point of the weekend, a top shelf wrist shot after a nice deke that fooled the Edinburgh netminder.

The Giants will now return home to focus on this weekend’s visit of Andre Payette and the Newcastle Vipers who have formed a bitter rivalry with the Coors Giants over the past two seasons. Be sure to get your tickets for what should be an exciting game by calling to Odyssey Arena box office on 9073 9074 or by logging onto www.ticketmaster.ie

Period Scores: 1-0, 0-2, 0-2
Penalty Mins: Edinburgh 12 - Belfast 18
Shots On: Pasi Raitanen 34 - Stevie Lyle 29
Referee: Marco Coenen

A brand new team will take to the ice tonight against the Cardiff Devils, but with so much happening off the ice as well as on it, we thought you might need an update before you take your seat tonight.

First of all, the jersey orders are in and will be available for pick up tonight at the Fan Zone Game Night Information Table. The Fan Zone Table is located in the main foyer, where the Customer Service Table always was before.

Anyone looking to order a jersey tonight can do so at either one of the Merchandise booths that will be open this season. Make sure you try on a jersey before you buy, these jerseys fit smaller than last season’s jerseys and remember to bring your FanZone Card (Season Ticket) if you are ordering a Black Jersey.

Fancy winning a flatscreen television tonight? Then sign up with a valid email address and mobile number at one of the Laser Electrical tables on the concourse level and be entered into the draw for free! Everyone who enters also gets a discount on their next purchase at Laser Electrical Stores. Someone is going to take home the Flatscreen TV courtesy of Laser Electrical Tonight; it might as well be you!

Our hot dog launcher is now a sub sandwich cannon. That’s right, Subway is on board and tonight we will be launching tasty Subs into the Odyssey Crowd! Stay in your seats at the end of the first period and you might catch yourself a flying sub!

Subway have also sponsored this year’s Healthy Lifestyle Adopt a School Campaign that will see the Giants visit over 15,000 kids to talk about Healthy Eating and a Healthy Lifestyle. For more information of how your business or school can get involved call the Giants Office on (028) 9059 1111.

Chuck a puck is back at the Odyssey Arena courtesy of Stena Line Ferries. For those who purchase pucks please carefully make your way down the stairs at the end of the 2nd period and listen for our signal. The closest puck to the center ice bullseye will win a trip for 4 to Scotland courtesy of Stena Line Ferries. Pucks will be available from the Fan Zone Table as well as from a designated seller who will be walking around the Arena.

The first edition of Top Shelf magazine is on sale all night long. Pick up a copy from one of the G Crew members scattered around the Arena tonight. This issue has a preview and pictures of every single one of the 2008/09 Coors Belfast Giants. Head around to Rockies after the game and you can get the players to autograph your copy tonight.

There is also a game night poster available from the G Crew. The poster is folded down to a line up card with both team lists on it and folds out to a poster of the last of the Original Giants, Sensational Shane Johnson.

Every game this season you can win a Shirt of the Back of one of the Coors Belfast Giants players. Get your tickets from designated Fan Zone members who will be selling tickets right up to the end of the second period intermission. The winner will be drawn before the start of the third period and will be presented with the jersey on the ice after the game.

Get your 50/50 tickets from designated Fan Zone members selling them throughout the Arena. The winner will take home 50% of the money raised with the other 50% going to the purchase of equipment for the Coors Belfast Giants.

If it’s your first time at an ice hockey match, why not pick up a free copy of the basic rules of ice hockey. This FREE leaflet will explain all the rules including icing and offside and also gives you a brief introduction to the Coors Belfast Giants. It also has Finn McCool explaining all the penalties that can be called throughout a match. Pick up a copy at the Fan Zone Game Night Information Table in the main foyer tonight.

Look out for a brand new Gordie the Gorilla. Despite the so-called credit crunch, Banana Stock has continued to rise and Gordie made some savvy investments throughout the off-season. He has splashed out for a bit of a face-lift over the summer and will be a whole lot happier when you see him tonight.

There are also plenty of other giveaways and prizes to be won, so keep listening because your lucky seat or lucky programme could get you anything from dinner at Spur Steakhouse, to a pack of Coors Light, a signed stick, a free pizza and much more!

Remember Doors Open at 6pm, as always. Face Off is 7pm.

The Coors Belfast Giants are delighted to announce the double signing of former college teammates Bobby Robins and Andrew Martin for the 2008-09 ice hockey season. Both players played under Steve Thornton's former college coach, Blaise Macdonald, at University of Massachusetts-Lowell and came with glowing references. They have both made smooth transitions to pro hockey and are excited to start their European careers with the Coors Belfast Giants.

Bobby Robins spent last season with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL where he produced 35 points and 151 penalty minutes in 68 games. He comes to Belfast with over 100 games of AHL experience in the last 2 and-a-half years.

Player/Coach Steve Thornton had this to say:

"I have been chasing these 2 guys for quite a while now and I think that they are going to be very important players for us next year. The teams with 10 imports in our league seem to be leaning towards speed and skill with the other teams going for more size and toughness. Bobby Robins will tick both boxes for us. He will be able to play on a skilled line and at the same time keep other teams honest with his big physical presence. He has been described as a devastating hitter that can change the momentum of a game at any given moment. I spoke to 6 pro coaches about him and 3 of them tried to trade for him last season."

Bobby Robins, speaking from his home in Wisconsin is looking forward to dawning the Giants jersey:

"I can't wait to get there now and for the season to start. I have heard great things about the Belfast Giants and the fans you have there and this was a big influence in my decision to sign. I have been speaking to Steve for quite a while now and despite interest from some AHL teams, I really believe Belfast was the right choice for me."

Andrew Martin's biggest weapon is his speed. He had a very successful college career and has continued to impress since turning pro. He spent the last 2 seasons in the ECHL scoring 72 points in 93 games.

Thornton on Martin:

"Andrew is a guy that I didn't think we would be able to get because there was interest in him from some other European leagues, as they love the speedy offensive guys. He has a great all round game and we expect him to score some big goals for us next season. When I spoke to his college coach and presented him with about 30 names that we were looking at, Andrew and Bobby were at the top of his list. He described Andrew as the complete package on and off the ice."

Andrew spends his summer as a fitness coach to young aspiring hockey players in Toronto and is more than happy to be a Giant.

"I think my game is suited to the big European rinks. Speed is probably my best asset so I think that the big surface will be a bonus for me. I have spoken to Bobby and we both can't wait to get over there now. Signing in Belfast felt like the right option for me at this stage in my career as I have had the chance to talk to quite a few people about the team and the city and it sounds like playing in Belfast is pretty tough to match elsewhere."

General Manager Todd Kelman spoke about the two newest Giants:

"These 2 players are the type of people we expect to take the Giants to the next level on and off the ice. They both are captain material and have worn letters before. They both have been describes as animals in the gym and most importantly they both are very good hockey players that play both ends of the ice and are coming here with aspirations and expectations of winning. I think that Bobby and Andrew have potential to become fan favourites very quickly for different reasons. Steve and I speak everyday about players and we feel that the team is really starting to take shape now. With the players we have and the other guys we are talking to, Steve is going to have a hard time deciding who will wear the letters next season."

Tony Hand has a proven track record in attracting quality goalscorers to the Manchester Phoenix, and in 32-year old David Beauregard, he’s signed a sniper of genuine pedigree.

Montreal native David Beauregard is the man Hand has entrusted to fill the hole left by Joe Tallari and the task does not faze the amiable French Canadian. “I know Joe did a great job in Manchester last year and I’m coming there to take on that role. I’ve always worn number 10 on my shirt and Joe too did well with that number last year. People have told me I should have tried Europe earlier in my career, so I’m really excited about signing in Manchester.”

David Beauregard suffered a staggering injury not long after being drafted in 1994 by the San Jose Sharks, when after scoring 15 goals in his first 12 games of the 94-95 season, he took a high stick to the face that resulted in the loss of sight in his left eye. “It wasn’t easy getting back into the game,” he said. “It took me a while to judge distances again. But I love hockey, and I was determined to play again and turn professional. I’d had a good camp with the Sharks despite being one of the smallest players there and I knew I could make it.” The injury cost him a chance to sign an NHL contract, but that didn’t deter him from his goal to play the game he loves. “I just kept on practising and things got better and better, and the goals returned, it doesn’t bother me at all.”

Phoenix supremo Tony Hand commented, “Davids’ record is impressive to say the least and we are very pleased to have secured his signature. Everywhere he’s played he’s scored goals, it seems to come naturally to him and we’re hopeful he’ll continue that trend in Manchester. When we spoke to him, he was excited and we could tell he was keen to come. And the references we got talk of a quality person, both on and off the ice.”

In a career spanning 15 seasons, the six-foot, 190lb, left-shot forward has posted an amazing 606 goals together with over 500 assists to show he's as adept at setting up goals as he is at scoring them. And just minutes after signing his contract paperwork, the bubbly Canadian added, “Coming to England and Manchester will be a totally new experience for my wife Stacy and me, but friends who’ve played there told me not to hesitate. Sean Starke played there last season and he was very enthusiastic and Troy Neumeier who I won a championship with in Fort Wayne told me we’ll love it there – we can’t wait. I love to play hockey, love to practise, I’m so happy and feel privileged to be coming there.”

Sunday Night's loss has confirmed that the Coors Belfast Giants will be taking on the Newcastle Vipers in the First Round of the Elite League Playoff Championships. The two rivals will play on Saturday, March 29th in Dundalk and then the next night in Newcastle with the aggregate winner advancing to the Final Four in Nottingham on April 5th and 6th.

After a weekend of Elite League action, all but one of the first round playoff series have been confirmed and are as follows:

Sheffield v Manchester
Nottingham v Cardiff
Belfast v Newcastle

The only question remaining is which team the League Winning Coventry Blaze will be facing in their opening round of the Playoffs. The eighth and final playoff spot is still up for grabs between either the Edinburgh Capitals or the Basingstoke Bison.

The Capitals face the Sheffield Steelers next Saturday, while the Bison have a busy week starting with the second leg of their Knock Out Cup Final against the Blaze on Tuesday in Coventry. Then they take on the Giants in Dundalk on Thursday Night before returning home for another clash against the Blaze on Saturday Night, their third game in 7 days against Coventry.

Sunday night, the Bison will travel to Edinburgh for their fifth match in eight days, and it looks like that game will be the decider for the final playoff spot. The Bison have a game in hand on the Capitals right now, but with a tough week of games, including a Cup Final, a trip to Belfast and another to Edinburgh, it could be the Capitals that have the advantage going into this one.

The 6 game regular season series between the playoff matchups went like this:

Sheffield 4 (wins) - Manchester 2 (wins)
Nottingham 4 - Cardiff 2
Belfast 4 - Newcastle 2

Coventry 4 - Basingstoke 1 (1 game remaining)
Coventry 4 - Edinburgh 2 Tickets for the Giants match up on Thursday in Dundalk against the Bison are still available from the Giants Office this week. Buses to Dundalk can be booked through the Giants office as well. Call 028 9059 1111

Ed Courtenay's side were well beaten on Thursday night

The Belfast Giants received a 6-1 thrashing by Sheffield Steelers at the Odyssey Arena on Thursday night.

Jonathan Phillips scored twice in the first period but Peter Campbell pulled one back for Ed Courtenay's side in the second period.

Ashley Tait (2), Phillips and Ryan Finnerty were the scorers in the third period as Sheffield romped home.

The Giants have another home game on Saturday with Newcastle Vipers being the opposition on that occasion.