WATCH: ‘They deserved it’ – Belfast Giants lift ice hockey's Elite League title with home success
Belfast Giants secured ice hockey’s Elite League title for the eighth time on Friday night – and second in succession – thanks to victory over main rivals Nottingham Panthers by 4-2.
A sold-out SSE Arena celebrated glory as captain David Goodwin set the standard with a goal double alongside Mike Lee and Carsen Twarynski appearing on the scoresheet.
Two points left the Giants spraying champagne alongside the sweat on home ice following a thrilling finish to the league-long title challenge as defending champions.
It proved the perfect winning response under the highest of stakes having lost at home to Glasgow Clan most recently.
Adam Keefe’s latest silverware addition to the trophy cabinet extends his tally as the most successful head coach in Belfast Giants history following the formation of the franchise in 2000.
"I thought they were fantastic tonight,” said Keefe over his official Elite Ice Hockey League TV post-title interview. "My heart couldn't take it much more...I think we saw that last weekend (loss to Glasgow Clan).
"I probably over-reacted to be completely honest with you.
That's just the passion in me, I wanted it done last weekend - I think the players did too.
"The moment...maybe we were looking for it too much and that's on me.
"But this weekend...it's important that you learn from your losses.
"And I thought the guys learned from the Coventry loss, they learned from that loss last weekend against Glasgow.
"I thought they were fantastic tonight...led from our captain (David Goodwin) right throughout the line-up.
"Everybody was great and I'm really pleased that they got the job done because they deserved it."
Before the start of play, the Panthers sat second behind the Giants in the league table on a tally of 68 points from 49 games – in contrast to the Belfast club’s 76-point return off 48 fixtures.
As a result, the Belfast players lined out aware any win over Friday or Saturday would push the Giants over the line.
And the party atmosphere will continue on Saturday night at the same Belfast venue when the Panthers tackle the Giants in the final leg of the double-header.