A View From The Bridge : Belfast Giants Official Podcast

It was the Belfast Giants’ best week of the season so far, with an asterisk. We look back on two statement road wins in the league, 4-1 at Cardiff Devils and 6-1 at Nottingham Panthers, which stretched the winning run to four games. Then came the Challenge Cup shootout defeat at Fife Flyers, a feisty night that came after the Giants had already wrapped up top spot in Group B. We’re joined by new signing Jason Fram, the Olympian defenceman who arrives from Glasgow Clan with a two-time U SPORTS Defenceman of the Year award and years in the KHL behind him, to introduce himself properly ahead of a possible debut this weekend. JJ Piccinich also joins us after a six-point week to talk about what’s clicking on the top line. And it's POTM time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's A View from the Bridge, we look back on a testing week for the Belfast Giants: last Wednesday’s defeat away at Fife Flyers, followed by two narrow wins over Glasgow Clan at the weekend. We’re joined by Giants forward Peter Bates, who talks about his long-term injury, the rehab process and the road back to the ice. We also discuss the Belfast Giants Hall of Fame inductees for 2026 and what the honour means for the club and its fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A huge one to mark our 21st birthday — live since 20/10/2005! The lads break down a weekend that went 2-0 for the Giants but came with a serious scare. First up, a composed 4-1 Challenge Cup win over Glasgow Clan at The O2, then an absolute rollercoaster at the AO Arena — Belfast up 4-1 late against Manchester Storm, before two Storm goals in the final minute dragged it to overtime. Patrick Guay’s extra-time winner completed a wild 5-4 escape. New defenceman Ty Prefontaine joins the show fresh off his first week in a Giants jersey — a goal against Manchester and a scrap with Kyle Locke in the same shift. He talks the move from the Allen Americans, settling into the EIHL’s physicality, and what’s next for him on the blue line. Then a very special 21st-birthday guest: 2018/19 Challenge Cup hero Jordan Smotherman returns to the show for the first time in years, looking back on that cup-winning goal, his journey from the Quebec Remparts to the NHL draft to Europe and the ECHL. Plus: Around the League, including Glasgow Clan’s rough start, Hockey Fights Cancer, Toby Craig trolling the crowd — and a look ahead to a brutal run of three games in eight days against Fife and Glasgow Clan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

League hockey is here, and the Belfast Giants’ opening week was a mixed one: a gutsy 1-0 win at Coventry Blaze, with Jake Kupsky’s shutout and a Jake Gaudet tip-in the difference, followed by a 5-2 defeat at Cardiff Devils. The lads break down both games, from the video review on Gaudet’s goal to the power-play swing that turned it Cardiff’s way. We’re joined by brothers Nicolas and Patrick Guay, now on the same side for the first time after years as junior rivals, to talk about life as teammates, the road to Belfast and what this group can achieve. We also look around the league, including Glasgow Clan parting ways with head coach Mike Sirant after a winless start, Guildford’s Dustyn McFaul being banned for kneeing, Coventry’s eight-goal win over Dundee and a week dominated by video reviews. Then we preview a big weekend for the Giants: Glasgow Clan at The O2 in the Challenge Cup on Saturday, followed by a trip to Manchester Storm at the AO Arena on Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A perfect week for the Belfast Giants as they sweep a Dundee Stars double-header: a 3-1 win on the road in the Challenge Cup on Friday, followed by a 4-0 shutout at The O2 on Sunday. The lads break down both games, from the Guay brothers' chemistry to Jake Kupsky's clean sheet. We're joined by Ciaran Long, who scored in both games against Dundee, and new defenceman Jaeden Martin, who talks about settling into life in Belfast after a hockey journey from Florida through Sweden and Denmark. We also look around the league, including Fife's back-to-back overtime wins over Sheffield, Nottingham's big win at Guildford and a fine for Manchester Storm head coach Cameron Critchlow. Then we preview a big weekend with the opening of the league campaign against Coventry Blaze and Cardiff Devils. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Belfast Giants' perfect start to the Challenge Cup campaign comes to an end — a 4-1 defeat away to Glasgow Clan on Sunday, just a day after putting five past Fife Flyers at the O2. The lads breaksdown both results in detail, from JJ Piccinich's hot scoring streak to Jake Kupsky's night against the Clan, before sitting down with forward Scott Conway (still tormenting Fife every time out) and new Danish international defenceman Morten Jensen for his first sit-down since arriving in Belfast. Plus, all the biggest talking points from around the Elite League and a look ahead to a massive back-to-back with Dundee Stars this week. All that and more on this week's A View from the Bridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another big week of Giants action to get through! We're joined by Cole Shudra and Mike Lee to react to the latest results and look ahead to the rest of the season, plus a very special guest — Belfast Giants cult hero Steve Saviano drops by for a trip down memory lane. A fan favourite during his two seasons in teal, Saviano picked up the Coach's Player of the Year award in 2016/17 and wore an assistant's letter for the Giants the following season. We chat pre-season memories, life in Belfast, and what he's been up to since hanging up his skates. Plus all the usual news and talking points from around the EIHL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Competitive hockey is finally here! We look back on a perfect opening weekend for the Belfast Giants, who picked up four points from two away games in Scotland — a 4-1 win at Dundee Stars followed by a dramatic 3-2 shootout win at Glasgow Clan. We're joined by shootout hero Jake Kupsky, and new defenceman Mason Klee, who opened his Giants account in style on debut. We're also joined by former AVFTB member and former Manchester Storm General Manager Neil "The Coach" Russell for a big debate on the EIHL's "haves and have-nots" — including a closer look at Manchester Storm's postponed AO Arena game, and a wider discussion on how the league can expand and what's holding it back. Plus, we look around the rest of the EIHL before previewing a huge home double-header at The O2 Belfast as the Giants host Dundee Stars and Fife Flyers this coming weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We look back on a brilliant week in Germany, as the Belfast Giants closed out pre-season at the Warrior Cup — a superb 6-3 semi-final win over Swiss side HC Ambrì-Piotta, followed by a hard-fought final defeat to German giants EHC Red Bull München. We're joined by a very special guest, former Giants defenceman and 2013/14 EIHL Defenceman of the Year Calvin Elfring, who drops by for a trip down memory lane. Plus we catch up with Jake Gaudet, who found the net in both games out in Germany, and new defensive signing Christian Berger, fresh off his first taste of action in teal. We talk Manchester Storm and look forward to a huge weekend of Challenge Cup action as the Giants head to Dundee and Glasgow to open their competitive campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new season of Belfast Giants hockey is ahead and A View from the Bridge is here! In our opening episode, we look back on a busy weekend of pre-season action as the Belfast Giants got their first hit-out of the 2026/27 campaign, and we look ahead to a big trip to Germany this coming weekend for the Warrior Cup. We're joined by a stacked panel of guests, with forwards Jordan Kawaguchi and Kaleb Pearson dropping by to chat about pre-season form, settling in and the season ahead, before head coach Adam Keefe joins us to reflect on his squad, the Warrior Cup challenge and what fans can expect from the Giants this year. Plus all the latest news and talking points from around the league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices