➡️ Monday Review: Keefe completes league coaching set
All coaches confirmed for new season and the rest of the weekend stories
As if there was ever going to be any doubt.
Adam Keefe confirmed his return to Belfast Giants for what will be his ninth season as the Elite League champions start to turn their attention to another campaign.
After the celebration of Keefe’s time at the club with his testimonial last week, it hadn’t gone unnoticed that Belfast were yet to announce regarding their team for 2025/26.
But with their head coach in place, the players will surely follow and after another trophy-laden season, Keefe remains as ambitious as ever.
“To lead the club for another season is a tremendous honour,” he told the club’s website.
“Belfast Giants have been an integral part of my life for over a decade, and I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together – not just in terms of silverware, but in the culture and identity we’ve built here in Belfast.
“We have the best fans in the Elite League, state-of-the-art facilities, and a vision to continue competing at the highest level, both domestically and in Europe.
“As always, our goals remain ambitious; to win as many trophies as possible, to progress within the Champions Hockey League, and to continue representing Belfast with pride, professionalism, and passion.”
🏟️ AROUND THE RINKS
We’ve made a slight change to this part of the newsletter where we’ll take you around the Elite League to pick out the stories and news from the last few days, but we’re going club to club, starting in Belfast
🍀 BELFAST GIANTS
🥹 Giants legend Robby Sandrock took to social media to extend his thanks and add some reflections following his participation in Adam Keefe’s testimonial last weekend. Sandrock played for the club for a season in 2002-03 before returning for three years between 2012 and 2015 - Robby Sandrock on X
📰 Adam Keefe’s return for another season was big news in Northern Ireland, with Adam McKendry reporting on the news for the Belfast Telegraph - Belfast Telegraph website
👋 Giants forward Kyle Osterburg announced his retirement as a player, reported Adam McKendry, where he’ll take a full time role with APX Hockey. The 30-year-old spent two years in the EIHL, playing for Fife Flyers and the Giants, making 100 appearances and picking up 80 points (27 goals and 53 assists) - Adam McKendry on X
🎥 Robert Greeley took a tour of the SSE Arena and got some real insight into life behind the scenes at Belfast Giants
👹 CARDIFF DEVILS
🙌 It was Joey Martin’s testimonial this weekend as the Devils celebrated their very own GOAT and the tributes came thick and fast for one of the best imports the Elite League has ever seen. Chris Howells of BBC Sport Wales sat down with Martin to look back on his career and his time in Cardiff - BBC Sport Wales website
🎥 Ahead of the game itself on Saturday, Cardiff Devils posted a video in tribute to their living legend. Photo courtesy of Cardiff Devils on X
👏 After the game, the Devils showed their appreciation to Martin and to the fans for their mutual love after Cardiff hailed one of their own - Cardiff Devils on X
🐉 COVENTRY BLAZE
🧊 We love a time-lapse video and Coventry Blaze delivered as they gave their ice pad at the Skydome a bit of a makeover. Video of Coventry Blaze on X
⭐️ DUNDEE STARS
🎓 Making an appearance in front of the camera for a change, Dundee Stars’ digital media co-ordinator Struan Davie spoke about his career path at the University of Dundee School of Business, who are one of the partners of the club - University of Dundee website
🔢 The Stars announced what number recent Stars signing Griffin Luce would be wearing in the new season - Dundee Stars on X
📆 Dundee also got the excitement going with the news that by this time next week, we’ll know the identity of three more players for Marc LeFebvre’s squad, comprised of two new faces and a returning player - Dundee Stars on X
🪽FIFE FLYERS
🧤 After the recent news of the takeover and the announcement of the new head coach, Fife Flyers joined the player signing parade this summer with the news that long-serving netminder Shane Owen is coming back to add to his 349 games - the most for a non-homegrown player in Fife’s EIHL history - Fife Flyers website
📱 And the man himself posted a message on X following the news that he would be between the pipes for another campaign in Kirkcaldy - Shane Owen on X
📰 New head coach Jamie Russell took the opportunity to speak with Allan Crow of Fife Free Press after his announcement last week - Fife Today website
⚔️ GLASGOW CLAN
📢 Before we go any further, let’s take a minute to share the best signing announcement so far this summer featuring a returning Clan player and a cameo by a former Clan legend (Video courtesy of Glasgow Clan)
✍️ That’s right, while he may be in Australia icing for Perth Thunder, Robert Lachowicz has committed to a third season with Glasgow Clan - Glasgow Clan website
🏒 We already knew about the trip to Germany, but the Clan also released information on their other pre-season games, taking place at Braehead Arena in the build-up to the new campaign - Glasgow Clan on X
🎟️ Clan fans still looking for a season ticket have until today to buy theirs as the deadline is up. Clan had released 200 extra season tickets for sale due to popular demand - Glasgow Clan on X
🔥 GUILDFORD FLAMES
📝 Flames were active on the signing front and added their second signature of the week, announcing the return of forward Ethan Strang for a second season. Strang iced 65 times for the Flames, scoring 28 goals and 25 assists in his maiden season in Surrey - Guildford Flames website
⛈️ MANCHESTER STORM
👋 There was a departure from the Storm Shelter in the last few days when it was announced defenceman Tyler Rockwell had moved on from the club - Manchester Storm on X
🐆 NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS
👋 Another departure was announced, this time at Nottingham Panthers as netminder Jere Huhtamaa left the Motorpoint Arena to join Norwegian side Stjernen - Nottingham Panthers on X
🟠 SHEFFIELD STEELERS
😄 Sheffield Steelers are building up the excitement as we head into a new week, with signing news imminent - Sheffield Steelers website
🤔 It was followed by this tease on the Steelers social media channels on Sunday night which has us all intrigued - Sheffield Steelers on X
📰 Meanwhile, Phil Harrison of the Yorkshire Post caught up with recent Steelers signing Derek Gentile, who admits he has ‘a renewed passion for the game’ - Phil Harrison for Yorkshire Post
🔢 THIS WEEK’S SIGNING COUNT
An at-a-glance look at where the player signing activity was distributed over the last seven days, with one team finally joining the game
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Please note this is an unofficial newsletter and not in any way affiliated to the Elite Ice Hockey League or any club.
Thank you for reading, enjoy your week and we’ll catch you on Thursday!