With the ice hockey season having just come to close, the Belfast Giants have already completed their most important bit of business in the off-season by securing the services of head coach Adam Keefe for another season.
The Giant’s most successful ever head coach has signed up to lead the team in their 2024/25 campaign as he seeks to bring silverware back to Belfast after his first trophy-less season in charge.
The 40-year-old has been an important figure for the Belfast Giants for the past 13 years, both as a player and as head coach.
Having swapped his ice-skates for a suit in 2017, Keefe has guided the Giants through a period of unprecedented success which includes eight pieces of silverware – four Challenge Cups, three Elite League titles, and one Elite League Playoff title – in the space of seven season as Head Coach.
The 2022/23 season helped to cement Keefe’s legendary status in Belfast when his side secured a historic treble – the Elite League, Challenge Cup and Play-Off trophies.
Keefe was no stranger to success as a player, winning two Elite League titles during his six seasons playing for the men in teal before going on to become their longest serving coach by five years.
Inconsistent performances in the Giant’s 2023/24 campaign meant they failed to retain any of last season’s trophy haul. The rollercoaster season can perhaps be attributed to some combination of player turnover, injuries, dips in form and an increasingly competitive Elite League.
Indeed, the Sheffield Steelers managed to replicate the Giant’s Grand Slam this season, demonstrating impressive consistency in all competitions over the course of a dominant campaign for the English side.
However, a strong finish to the season for the Giants which included the best record of all teams in the last 20 games of the season and a Playoff final provides hope that, after a rollercoaster of a campaign, they will continue on an upward curve as they seek to carry their momentum into next season.
Commenting on re-signing as Head Coach for the 2024/25 season, Adam Keefe said:
“I’m very happy to be returning for another season with the Belfast Giants. Although the 2023/24 campaign has only just ended, we’re already working hard behind the scenes to build a team that will challenge for all three trophies and bring success back to Belfast in the 2024/25 season.
Steve Thornton, Group Head of Commercial and Hockey at The Odyssey Trust, said:
“We’re excited that Adam will be returning as Head Coach for the 2024/25 season. There’s no question that Adam optimises what it means to be a Giant, and his impact on the organisation has been substantial, both on and off the ice. Adam’s passion and determination are off the charts, and I’m confident we will be competing for trophies with him leading the charge.”