Stormont reception for title-winning Giants

The Belfast Giants wound up their Superleague title winning season with a gala dinner a the Ramada Hotel and a reception hosted by Sports Minister Michael McGimpsey at Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

At the Stormont reception, Mr McGimpsey praised the achievements of coach Dave Whistle and his hockey stars, and said: "This is a success story of mammoth proportions and one which has really captured the imagination of the sporting public. In only their second season, they have skated rings around their opponents to lift the UK Superleague title and narrowly missed out on reaching the final stages of the play offs."

Mr McGimpsey pointed out that the success of title winners held significance not just to the sport's fans, but to Northern Ireland as a community.

He said: "In a very short space of time, the Giants have managed to draw support from both sides of the community and helped to establish the Odyssey as a top class attraction, a venue where the whole family can go and really enjoy themselves.

Mr McGimpsey congratulated everyone involved in the success of the Belfast Giants and said that he looked forward to the day when Northern Ireland produced players of a sufficiently high standard to enable them to join their ranks.

At the Ramada Hotel dinner, Mike Bales was awarded the BIHWA Belfast Giant's Official Player of the Year in addition to his Supporters' Club Player of the Year award and Most Valuable Player accolade on the clubs unofficial website.

Meanwhile, the hockey league is to be extended with the inclusion of Dublin as the site of a new franchise expansion team. The Dublin team will probably not be in a position to compete in the league until the 2005-2006 season.

(GMcG)