Belfast Giants announce more signings for 2021/22 season

The Stena Line Belfast Giants are pleased to announce the signing of Lewis Hook, Ciaran Long and Slater Doggett for the forthcoming 2021/22 season.

Fan favourites Hook and Long return to Belfast fresh from their time with the GB national team at the World Championships in Latvia this summer. As the number of names returning in teal for 2021/22 begin to stack up, the first of several new fresh faces have been announced in the form of 27-year-old Canadian import, Slater Doggett from Oakville, Ontario. The trio brings in three solid forwards, adding depth up front to Adam Keefe’s growing roster.

The Giants have made a big statement of intent in the last week. This latest announcement follows hot on the heels of the first signing announcements last Wednesday, with news of the return of Darcy Murphy, Kevin Raine and Tyler Beskorowany whipping the Teal Army into a frenzy, causing #GiantsReborn to trend on Twitter.

The latest signing news was announced during the A View from The Bridge podcast on Wednesday morning,

Commenting on the signings, Belfast Giants Head Coach Adam Keefe said: “We’ve had a strong start, with our announcement of Besko, Murphy and Rainer last week. We’re adding to that now with a huge part of our core team in Lewis Hook and Ciaran Long. We’re excited the guys are back wearing teal again this season.

“Topping this off is the addition of a new player in Slater Doggett who we think can have great success in this League and for this team. He’s a player that we’ve been tracking for a few years, and we’re excited to bring him to Belfast.

“His former coach Dustin Whitecotton was a great Belfast Giants player, who left everything on the ice for this club; he’s now coaching in Italy and coached Slater – it was great to have him on our side and to help get his signing over the line.

“We’re working hard to look for and sign the best players that we can to have another successful season and bring more trophies to Belfast.”

Further signings are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Fixtures for the forthcoming ElHL2021/22 Season are expected to be announced in late July.

Season Ticket Holders that have yet to renew for the forthcoming season can still do so. Prices will be held at the 2019/20 rates until Monday 26^th July 2021. Previously advertised incentives will also be honoured for any season ticket holders that sign up by this date.

To purchase your Season Ticket, click here. For further information, visit BelfastGiants.com

MORE ON OUR LATEST SIGNINGS FROM A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

Our latest signings were announced on the latest episode of the official Giants' podcast, A View From The Bridge. Here's a quick look at what they had to say. Listen to the latest episode #HOCKEYSCOMINGHOME here.

LEWIS HOOK | #8 | PETERBOROUGH, UK

Fan favourite Lewis Hook was part of the Giants League and Cup double winning squad in 2018-19, alongside Kevin Raine and Tyler Beskorowany. He returns to Belfast following his international debut for the GB National team, earning his first cap in the opening game against Russia and going on rack up three more on-ice appearances.

Speaking to the A View from the Bridge podcast he said: “Ever since I signed for Belfast two years ago, I’ve loved every second. I’ve been fortunate to win some trophies and obviously we want to continue that. Keefer and Steve are putting together a great team, I’ve got great friends there – friends on the ice, backstage and it’s kind of like a second home to me, so it was a no brainer to come back.”

CIARAN LONG | #89 | BIRMINGHAM, UK

Forward Ciaran Long’s first season with the Giants was cut short due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Following experience gained with the GB national team this summer, he’ll be hoping to pick up where he left off.

Speaking to the A View from the Bridge podcast he said: “I love Belfast, everything about Belfast – the fans are great, the boys are great, the club is amazing. It was a really easy decision… The people in Northern Ireland are really kind people and really great fun; it’s great craic as you say.

“With my numbers that I put up in Belfast last year, I want to prove to people that I can do what I did in Manchester in Belfast. I’m going to keep doing what I was doing and what Keefer wants me to do. We’re here to win trophies really; that’s the big picture. If playing a more defensive role is what is needed to do that, I’m more than happy, if we’re bringing silverware to the table.”

SLATER DOGGETT | #17 | OAKVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA.

Centreman Slater Doggett joins the Belfast Giants following a strong track record in college hockey and a fruitful two years playing in Europe. In spite of pandemic disruptions, last year, he enjoyed valued on-ice time in Slovakia for HC Nove Zamky. Notably, he was the top scorer in the Alps Hockey League in 2019-20, recording 42 goals and 44 assists in just 44 games for the WSV Sterzing Broncos, playing under Belfast Giants legend, Dustin Whitecotton. The young Canadian is hungry for success and will hope to replicate the winning form of his former coach, who helped capture the EIHL title for the Belfast Giants in 2013-2014.

Speaking to the A View from the Bridge podcast he said: “I’ve seen videos and heard from word of mouth how great the fans are in Belfast, so I can’t wait to experience a game. I’ve heard that the Giants have a really good winning culture and I want to win some trophies. I can’t wait to be part of it and get over there.”

Photos by William Cherry, PressEye.