Get to Know the Ravens and Golden Bears
As part of the club’s pre-season preparations, the Stena Line Belfast Giants will welcome the Carleton University Ravens and the University of Alberta Golden Bears to The SSE Arena, Belfast, with the men in teal in action on Friday 30 August and Sunday 1 September, and both Canadian sides going head-to-head on Saturday 31 August.
While the Giants will be facing off against more familiar in the Cardiff Devils the weekend prior, the Ravens and Golden Bears will provide a new challenge for Adam Keefe’s side in the build-up to the start of the 2024/25 season on Saturday 7 September. The unique set of fixtures not only offers fans one of the first opportunities to see the Giants back in action but also marks the first time that the men in teal have taken on USports opposition since two pre-season fixtures against the University of Manitoba in 2018.
With the Canadian college system widely considered to be ever-improving to a level similar to the NCAA, both the Ravens and Golden Bears have produced several players who have gone on to compete in the Elite League, including the likes of Trevor Cox and Cole Sandford (Cardiff Devils), Brett Ferguson, Ryan Hughes, and Taz Burman (Guildford Flames), and C.J. Garcia (Manchester Storm). Closer to home, treble-winning duo Tyler Soy and Steve Owre are both University of Alberta alumni, having made a combined 116 appearances for the Edmonton-based Bears.
Both team’s coaches and management are no strangers to the Elite League and Belfast itself, with Raven’s Head Coach Mark Cavallin having spent two seasons with the Giants, playing over 45 games between 2000 and 2002. Golden Bears’ General Manager Stan Marple was a member of the Guildford Flames roster for nine seasons between 1997 and 2007, with the former defenceman making over 160 appearances for the then British National League (BNL) side.
Sandwiched between two games against the Giants, the Ravens and Golden Bears will go one-on-one at 7pm on Saturday 31 August, providing spectators with the opportunity to watch the stars of tomorrow in action. In addition, members of the 2024/25 Belfast Giants’ roster will be in attendance at The SSE Arena, Belfast, with exciting activations and meet-and-greet opportunities set to be announced soon.
Tickets for all three fixtures are on sale now. For more information or to purchase, please click here.
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