The last days of Coach Derrick Walser at the helm of
Belfast
The telling results took place early in the season however the nails
in the Giants coffin were hammered in with the loss to Sheffield
after their 5-2 defeat by the Steelers on Match 17th.
The same numbers but reversed in Coventry the next night game
(March 18th) which gave Belfast some distant hope but still the
writing was on the wall even following the 5-2 Coventry victory.
The last throw of the dice took place in Cardiff’s double hitter in the
Devils new ice stadium. The Giants took on Cardiff with hopes of a
last ditch capture of some silverware however the Devils had other
ideas winning 4-3 in a hard fought tense contest.
With the Elite League title secured by Cardiff, Belfast still had to
secure a victory in the second night of this awesome double hitter
to stop Sheffield securing second place in the Elite League race.
That they did with a 5-3 win thus hoping for a better placing in the
playoffs.
The last victory in the Elite League regular season for coach
Derrick Walser’s coached Giants was a 5-3 away victory against
the Cardiff Devils. The visitors never fell behind in the game and
ensured they would finish second and face the Fife Flyers in the
Playoff Quarter Final next weekend.
Colin Shields scored first finishing off a great season netting
unassisted followed by the star of the season for Belfast Blair Riley
who doubled the Giants lead to 2-0 all early in the second period,
assisted by James Desmarais and Chris Higgins.
With Referee Dean Smith sending both Blair Riley and Adam
Keefe to the penalty box allowing Cardiff’s Layne Ulmer to pulled
one back on his powerplay score
The Giants restored their two-goal advantage late in the second
period through Chris Higgins. Blair Riley posted his second goal of
the game in the final period as the Giants took a 4-1 lead.
The Devils pulled one back yet again with ten minutes left on the
game clock through Matthew Myers. Then it became a one goal
game only fifty seconds left to play when the Devils Layne Ulmer
scored. James Desmarais ensured the Giants took the two points
from Cardiff on Sunday with an empty net finish with just ten
seconds left to play.
Facing Fife Flyers in the quarterfinals the Giants had an even split
(50-50) in the regular seasons record with Belfast during the
regular season place, which meant any result could happen.
The Giants won the opening game of the two-legged quart final 4-2
in Belfast April 1st then securing a final four placement after a
second victory in Fife the next night winning 4-1 securing second
place by just one point from Paul Thompson’s coached Sheffield
Steelers.
ELITE LEAGUE
TEAM
GP
W
L
PTS
Cardiff Devils
52
32
10
81
Belfast Giants
52
30
13
74
Sheffield Steelers
52
31
14
73
Nottingham Panthers
52
22
20
58
Braehead Clan
52
24
22
57
Fife Flyers
52
20
24
53
Dundee Stars
52
16
26
46
Manchester Storm
52
17
26
44
Coventry Blaze
52
13
28
43
Edinburgh Capitals
52
11
33
35
Yes finally The Belfast Giants made the Final Four Weekend in the
Motorpoint Arena Nottingham after two successful Victories over
Fife Flyers.
They also picked up three players named in the Elite League AllStar teams. Jim Vandermeer is a first All-Star with both Derrick
Walser and Blair Riley second All-Stars.
There is representation from both the Erhardt and Gardiner
Conference across the two Elite League All-Star teams.
Team GB goaltender Ben Bowns leads out the First All Star Team,
with Cardiff team mate Andrew Hotham and Belfast’s Jim
Vandermeer selected as the two defensemen following exceptional
campaigns, with Hotham finishing the season as the leading
defensive scorer once again.
Joey Martin, Dundee talisman Vinny Scarsella and Mathieu Roy
complete the line up, with all three receiving strong support from
coaching staff and General Managers across the EIHL during the
voting process.
Fife Flyers goaltender Shane Owen was selected as the Second
All Star Team goaltender after a stand out first season in the EIHL,
while Giants player-coach Derrick Walser and Dundee’s FélixAntoine Poulin also made the team after both made a significant
impact for their clubs during the season.
Braehead hot shots Matt Beca, who led the EIHL in points this
year, and Scott Pitt, who led the league in goals, are joined by
Belfast’s Blair Riley at forward to complete the line up.
FIRST ALL STAR TEAM
Goaltender: Ben Bowns (Cardiff Devils)
Defenseman: Andrew Hotham (Cardiff Devils)
Defenseman: Jim Vandermeer (Stena Line Belfast Giants)
Forward: Joey Martin (Cardiff Devils)
Forward: Vinny Scarsella (Dundee Stars)
Forward: Mathieu Roy (Sheffield Stealer’s)
SECOND ALL STAR TEAM
Goaltender: Shane Owen (Fife Flyers)
Defenseman: Derrick Walser (Stena Line Belfast Giants)
Defenseman: Félix-Antoine Poulin (Dundee Stars)
Forward: Matt Beca (Braehead Clan)
Forward: Blair Riley (Stena Line Belfast Giants)
Forward: Scott Pitt (Braehead Clan)
Its all to play for with Playoff Championship to be won following the
semi finals between Cardiff Devils and the First Time ever
appearance of Dundee Stars being the first Semi Final
Followed by Sheffield Steelers vs. Belfast Giants in the second
Semi Final. The winners go through to the Final with faceoff at
4pm to find the Elite League Playoff Champions. All games are two
close to call but lets hope for very competitive games that go right
down to the final whistle no matter which team is successful.
In addition to the above The Belfast Giants have received four
nominations for the Elite League Awards. Derrick Walser receives
a nomination for both Coach of the Year as well as Defenseman of
the Year while Jim Vandermeer is also nominated for the blue line
award. Colin Shields is a contender for the Best British Player.
The winner of each award will be announced following Sunday’s
bronze medal game at this week’s Playoff Final Weekend in
Nottingham.
And the nominees are…
FORWARD OF THE YEAR
Joey Martin (Cardiff Devils)
Vinny Scarsella (Dundee Stars)
Mathieu Roy (Sheffield Steelers)
DEFENCEMAN OF THE YEAR
Andrew Hotham (Cardiff Devils)
Jim Vandermeer (Stena Line Belfast Giants)
Derrick Walser (Stena Line Belfast Giants)
GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR
Ben Bowns (Cardiff Devils)
Shane Owen (Fife Flyers)
Ervins Mustukovs (Sheffield Steelers)
BRITISH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Colin Shields (Stena Line Belfast Giants)
Mark Richardson (Cardiff Devils)
Ben O’Connor (Sheffield Steelers)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Andrew Lord (Cardiff Devils)
Derrick Walser (Stena Line Belfast Giants)
Paul Thompson (Sheffield Steelers)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Andrew Hotham (Cardiff Devils)
Vinny Scarsella (Dundee Stars)
Mathieu Roy (Sheffield Steelers).
Written by Wayne Hardman