A purpose-built Belfast Giants All Stars team played a charity ice hockey match against Ukrainian National Championship side Dnipro Kherson in front of a sold-out crowd at The SSE Arena in Belfast. Hosted by The Odyssey Trust, the international exhibition aimed to raise vital funds for Ukrainian Hockey Dream, the registered charity of the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine.
The charity was established to support young Ukrainian ice hockey players, approximately 60% of whom have been forced to relocate and abandon their homes, while 40% of the country’s ice arenas have been destroyed or seized. Funds raised through ticket sales, donations, and other activities go toward providing infrastructure, coaching, and equipment to help young people return to the ice.
The Belfast Giants All Stars roster featured current and former players, including head coach Adam Keefe, former teammate Darryl Lloyd, fan favorite JJ Piccinich, and former Premier League football goalkeeper and Chelmsford Chieftains netminder Petr Cech.
Before the match, the Belfast Giants raised the banner for their recent 2022/23 Playoffs victory over the Cardiff Devils, which completed the team’s first-ever treble. Local artist Ryan McMullan also performed his song “Belfast City” to open the event.
During the game, the Giants All Stars secured a 9-7 victory, driven by two goals each from Grant Cooper and Matt McLeod, alongside goals from Mack Stewart, Mark Cooper, Steve Saviano, JJ Piccinich, and Darryl Lloyd. Petr Cech started in goal for the Giants, playing the first half and conceding one goal before being replaced by Andrew Dickson for the remainder of the contest.
Following the match, representatives from The Odyssey Trust presented Georgii Zubko, President of the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine and Director of Ukrainian Hockey Dream, with a cheque for £50,000 representing the funds raised so far. An additional £3,681 was raised through a raffle for a signed Boston Bruins jersey donated by management, with further donations to be announced later.
