Belfast Giants will start their competitive campaign this week when they are confronted with Norwegian Stavanger Oilers in the SSE Arena.
The team has already spent a week on the ice in Noord -Ireland, because preparations for two exhibition matches before their return to the Champions Hockey League.
Head coach Adam Keefe shared what the Giants have done so far in Belfast:
“We started our welcome meeting last Sunday, and from Monday we are immediately in conditioning. Week one is for us about putting down our ‘foundation’ and ensuring that the players understand what will bring our success.
On the first day the players took a cold water in the ocean and went through fitness tests. Day two was skating tests, which were very demanding. We also had some ‘green -blue versus white’ scrimmages to end the week, and on Sunday we climbed a peak in the Mountains.
We wanted to determine our expectations, goals and standards in the first week and work as a group to overcome adversity. “
Stavanger will arrive in Belfast for two games against the Giants, one each on Friday and Saturday. The Norwegian side will also spend most of the week in the city as part of their own preparations for the season.
Keefe looks ahead to week two and wants to expand the focus of the team:
“This week will be more about creating offense, working on special teams and adding our systems and structure – while we ensure that the players are at the level of conditioning, we know that they need Stavanger and then the CHL.”
The Giants on Mournes Trek (Photo: Belfast Giants)
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