The Stena Line Belfast Giants have been nominated, alongside four other top European clubs, for the ‘Club of the Year’ award at the 2023 Fenix Outdoor & Warrior European Hockey Awards, as announced on Wednesday 10 May by The Alliance of European Hockey Clubs (E.H.C).
The nomination comes for the second year running, in recognition of the Giants’ treble-winning year and ‘dominance in the Elite Ice Hockey League’ by winning Challenge Cup, league, and playoff silverware within one domestic season – a first in the club’s history. Other nominees in the ‘Club of the Year’ Category include, Genève-Servette (SUI), Oceláři Třinec (CZE), Växjö Lakers (SWE), and Tappara Tampere (FIN).
The Alliance of European Hockey Clubs was founded on 13 June 2016 at the E.H.C.’s first Annual General Meeting, by 70 clubs across 13 European countries. Ice hockey thus became the third major European team sport, after football’s European Club Association (ECA) and Forum Club Handball (FCH), to establish a club alliance with the mandate to look after and promote the interests of the professional hockey clubs and represent them internationally. The E.H.C. currently has 96 member clubs from 15 European countries.
Alongside the ‘Club of the Year’ category, other awards up for the taking include ‘Young Player of the Year’, ‘Coach of the Year’ and the Warrior Career Excellence Award. The awards will be formally presented to category winners on Tuesday 13 June at the Annual E.H.C Awards Dinner in Prague, Czech Republic.
Steve Thornton, group head of commercial & hockey at The Odyssey Trust, said: “The nomination for ‘Club of the Year’ at this year’s Fenix Outdoor Euro Hockey Awards comes after an incredible season for the Stena Line Belfast Giants, that saw the team achieve the treble and marking a historic season for our organisation.
“A nomination like this is a true testament to the collective efforts of our players, the coaching team, and all off ice staff – highlighting the unyielding dedication of the entire organisation in fostering a winning culture and creating unforgettable memories and experiences for our fans.
“To be named in this prestigious category alongside European ice hockey powerhouses is an honour and a privilege.”
Public voting for award categories – supplementary to the E.H.C Expert Panel – is officially open. Belfast Giants fans can cast their votes for their team at www.eurohockeyclubs.com.
The full list of nominees for the 2023 Fenix Outdoor & Warrior European Hockey Awards are:
Young Player of the Year – Presented by Fjällräven
Leo Carlsson (Örebro Hockey, SWE) – Led SHL in assists (15) & points (25) for U20 player
Leevi Meriläinen (Kärpät Oulu, FIN) – 5th best Sv% (.918) & GAA (2.02) in Liiga + 2 NHL (National Hockey League) games
Aku Räty (Ilves Tampere, FIN) – 42pts (11th in Liiga) nearly doubled previous season
David Reinbacher (EHC Kloten, SUI) – 22pts 2nd among NL jr players, tied 20th among D-men at 17
William Wallinder (Rögle BK, SWE) – 21:27 led Rögle & 10th in SHL TOI, 13th in D pts with 26
Coach of the Year – presented by Globetrotter
Jan Cadieux (Genève-Servette, SUI) – In first full season behind GSHC bench won club’s 1st ever title
Jörgen Jönsson (Växjö Lakers, SWE) – Team back on top under new coach, won league & playoffs
Tommi Niemelä (Pelicans Lahti, FIN) – Steady progress in 3 seasons, this year Lahti’s 2nd ever final
Jussi Tapola (Tappara Tampere, FIN) – Back-to-back Finnish doubles, this year CHL (Champions Hockey League) title added
Antti Törmänen (EHC Biel-Bienne, SUI) – Led team to 2nd place & finals despite cancer treatment
Club of the Year – presented by Hanwag
Belfast Giants (GBR) – dominated EIHL (Elite Ice Hockey League) by winning league, playoffs, Challenge Cup in one season
Genève-Servette (SUI) – first title in club’s 118-year history, first regular season title in 56 years Oceláři Třinec (CZE) – 4 straight Czech titles, 5 straight finals, heart & soul of a town of 34K
Växjö Lakers (SWE) – 4 titles (including 3 doubles) in last 8 years for club only founded in 1997
Tappara Tampere (FIN) – 11 seasons no worse than 4th, 4 titles, this year’s CHL win makes “treble”
Warrior Career Excellence Award
The Warrior Career Excellence Award is annually presented to the player who during his or her career has best exemplified the qualities of sportsmanship and dedication combined with community service and high standard of playing ability.
Červenka (R-Jona Lakers, SUI) – 2nd straight NL scoring title for 37-year-old Czech captain
Valtteri Filppula (Genève-Servette, SUI) – Triple Gold Club, this year added GSHC’s 1st ever title
Joakim Lindström (Skellefteå AIK, SWE) – SHL top scorer in 2010s, still a force at 39, cult figure
Tomáš Plekanec (Rytíři Kladno, CZE) – Captain of maternal club, at 40 still a top 2-way centre
Patrick Reimer (Nürnberg, GER) – DEL’s all-time goals & points leader, 3x MVP, Olympic silver
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