The Official opening to the Elite Ice Hockey League season is the Charity Shield and the Aer Lingus Belfast Giants started the season where they finished off last season, celebrating a trophy win.
A new coach in Doug Christiansen and a team of new faces for the Giants took on the defending league champion Coventry Blaze on Wednesday Night.
New Giant forward Dan Welch opening the scoring at 10:22 for the Giants with a blistering shot from just inside the Blaze zone.
Craig Peacock in his second season with the Giants doubled the lead at 22:34 to make it 2-0 to the Giants. Coventry's Luke Fulghum, last season's leading goal-scorer in the league scored the first for the Blaze to make it 2-1 at 28:17.
Despite ample scoring opportunities, the Blaze could not equalise until the middle of the third period when Jonathan Weaver made it 2-2 at 49:22. The game winning goal came on the powerplay when Josh Prudden scored at 54:27 to give the Giants the lead for good.
Rich Seeley sealed the victory in the dying seconds of the game with the Blaze pulling their goaltender for the extra attacker to give the Giants a 4-2 win.
Standout performances from Rich Seeley on defence and the always impressive Stephen Murphy in net highlighted the win for Belfast, who looked solid from top to bottom after only one day of training together as a team.
The Giants are still awaiting the arrival of Brandon Benedict, Mike Hoffman and the return of Graeme Walton, which will only bolster a strong line up this season.
After the game, Coach Christiansen was happy with his team's performance.
"We looked comfortable together but obviously both teams were working out some kinks and the play was sloppy at both ends of the ice. I thought Murphy made some huge saves for us and I think our defence looked very strong.
"It is day one of a long season and I know the guys are going to be tired but it is nice to start the season with a big win in the Charity Shield."
© UTV News