Giants win on CHL debut

Historic win for Belfast in opening CHL match.

What a night for the Belfast Giants, who won their opening Champions Hockey League game against Liberec from the Czech Republic.

It was a perfect start for Adam Keefe’s men as Bobby Farnham got on a rebound to put the Giants ahead after two minutes. While Tomáš Hudaček levelled for the visitors at 7:21, Patryk Wronka put the home side back ahead at 11:26. The game was however level after the opening period thanks to Ronald Knot.

Brian Ward’s wrist shot into the top scorner put the Giants ahead early in the middle period, before Hudáček equalised halfway through the period. The Giants however were back in the lead with 20 seconds left in the period, a cannon from Curtis Hamilton flying into the net.

Belfast made the most of a man advantage early in the final period as Ward struck again, but the end was a nervy affair as Jakub Valsky brought the ‘White Tigers’ back to within one with 28 seconds remaining – but it was the Giants’ night, as they held on to take a win in their first ever CHL game.