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ICS Hockey Trip Report: a good game -- and more! A perfect number of participants enabled the ICS
group to enjoy a large, private box for the February 28 Belfast
Giants hockey game. And, for the 10 participants who opted for it,
a special bonus was a behind-the-scenes, afternoon tour of the Odyssey
Arena, conducted by Giants General Manager Todd Kelman, who enlivened
it with some fascinating hockey anecdotes along the way. Todd, an
Alberta native, was the first player hired by the Giants and now,
after some seven-plus seasons as player and player/GM, leads the
Giants efforts to be an important part of the community as well
as a successful hockey franchise. Particularly notable on the community
front is the recent creation of the Giants Community Foundation,
which, among other things, brings together youngsters from both
sides of the sectarian divide in the context of hockey skills and
sportsmanship.
Todd joined the group for the accompanying picture – he’s the tall chap in the black suit standing midst the Team Canada-garbed Philippe (Blackrock, Co Dublin) and Nelligan (Oranmore, Co Galway) families.
The 10:30 start to the coach trip allowed plenty of time for lunch and a full afternoon for shopping, sightseeing and enjoying the Odyssey’s other special features such as the W5 science centre. Many gathered in the Odyssey’s Rockies Canadian Sports Bar to catch the first half of the Ireland-England Six Nations match before the game.
The Giants surged to a 4 - 0 lead but the game turned out to be a close one. The Hull Stingrays twice came within a goal as the game progressed. The final score, thanks to a last minute Giants empty-netter, was Giants 8, Stingrays 6.
Having a private box, complete with waiter service, was more than a winner for this trip. It has provided a model for organizing future ICS trips to cheer on the Giants. Future trip arrangements will include private box seating, with participation offered on a first-paid-first ticketed basis. This will facilitate communications with participants, the Giants and the coach company and, will also greatly simplify ICS volunteer administrative work.
Special thanks go to Todd and to ICS’s Theresa Kelloway for helping to make the trip such a resounding success.
Dave Wilson |
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