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Historic win for Belfast on debut
Brian Ward celebrates the opening goal (Photo: William Cherry)
  • Giants win CHL debut
  • Fiery game saw game misconducts on both sides
  • Brian Ward scored twice, including game-winning goal
The Giants hit the ice
Photo: William Cherry
Liberec's Marek Schwarz in warm-up
Photo: William Cherry
The Giants in the tunnel
Photo: William Cherry
Opening faceoff
Photo: William Cherry
Patryk Wronka celebrates
Photo: William Cherry
Liberec tied the game twice in the first period
Photo: William Cherry
Tempers flared between the two sides
Photo: William Cherry
Brian Ward was the star of the show for the Giants
Photo: William Cherry
Giants fans in Boomerang Corner
Photo: William Cherry
The Giants salute the SSE Arena crowd
Photo: William Cherry

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.

 
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