Power forward Blair Riley joins Belfast Giants

The 6’0” Power Forward arrives in Belfast from the AHL where he spent the 2015/16 season with the Stockton Heat.

Riley will add size and firepower to the Giants offensive line up for the 2016/17 Elite League season. The 30 year old has spent time in the AHL in each of the past seven seasons, playing over 330 games and was an assistant captain with Stockton, St.John’s as well as Bridgeport.

Riley’s time in the AHL was preceded by four seasons of NCAA hockey with Ferris State University. Riley has posted important numbers while playing on one of his team’s top forward lines, scoring 18 goals and 20 assists for Ferris State University in 2009/10 and 20 goals and 20 assists in 2010/11 for the Las Vegas Wranglers.

Riley said: “Belfast seemed like a perfect fit and a great opportunity that I could not pass up.

“ I am a bigger, physical forward and I like to play a well rounded game. I was more of a scorer when I played NCAA and when I transitioned to the pro game, I was more of a ‘bottom 6’ forward and was expected to play more of a physical brand of hockey, which is something that I will never shy away from.

“With the opportunity to play for the Giants, I am looking forward to playing in front of the Belfast fans.”