Overtime winner secures first win of season for Giants
Getting ready for the season’s start is always a dramatic time for players, management and coaches alike. More so when the team are league champions looking forward to playing in a Champions League knockout competition in Europe as well as trying repeat their success from last campaign; it is sure to be stressful.
That was the backdrop to this, the Belfast Giants’ first outing. So not wanting to risk losing a player like Jon Pelle before the season started like last season coach Doug Christiansen rested Noel Clarke, who had a shoulder operation earlier in the summer.
The encounter with Tilburg Trappers was a typical first game of the season, with the Giants gradually increased the temperature until the pot started to boil in overtime taking the visitors from Holland 5-4 in Belfast.
The Giants never had the lead until the overtime winner from Brock Matheson.
One of the Stars of the show was returning after a nine-year absence Robby Sandrock who reminded the Odyssey fans why he was so loved during his first stint back in 2002. A cannon slap shot from Sandrock on the powerplay was tipped by Darryl Lloyd to tie the score in the opening period 1-1.
Another fan’s favorite in Belfast, Adam Keefe. fired home a sweet pass from Craig Peacock to tie the game at 2 a piece at the end of the first period.
In the second period former Giant Josh Prudden, now with Tilburg who took advantage of a Giants turnover and buried it past his old teammate Stephen Murphy to make it 3-2. Giants Greg Stewart, former Montreal Canadian evened the score line at three goals each ending the second period.
Yet another new skater in the Odyssey Arena, former NHLer Greg Stewart showing both his skills with the puck scoring the tying third goal then his pugilistic skills by down Rico Jonkers with a three punch effort to the Belfast fans delight.
The Giants seemed to gel in the third period finally all playing on the same page and dominated play but still Tilburg stayed in the game, mostly because of the outstanding play of goalie Ian Meirdress who faced 47 shots on the night.
Tilburg scored in the dying minutes of the final period taking the lead 4-3. But with the final throw of the dice, Giants Mark Garside jammed in the tying goal putting the game into sudden death overtime.
With the Giants sensing victory were justly rewarded with a Brock Matheson goal to win the game and send the near 3,000 Odyssey crowd into a frenzy. Everyone went home happy after a great battle between to teams that played more like a playoff game than a pre-season friendly.
Next up, it’s on the road to Braehead on Saturday 8th September in Challenge Cup action. The Giants host their league season home opener on September 20th against the Dundee Stars.
