Hull 2 - 8 Belfast Giants
The Belfast Giants were in goal-scoring mood as they warmed up for Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with Nottingham Panthers.
Monday, 19 October 2009
An 8-2 win over the Hull Stingrays moved them to within a point of the Panthers.
The win came hot on the heels of Friday night's 9-2 win over Edinburgh Capitals, Colin Shields scoring a hat-trick, meaning he has now scored 13 goals in 14 games.
Meanwhile, the Giants have signed Canadian forward Jeffrey Szwez.
Szwez, 27, comes to Belfast after spending last season in Philadelphia with the Phantoms in the American Hockey League where he scored 12 goals in 69 games.
The 6'3" winger has spent most of the last five years of his professional career in the American Hockey League, the top affiliate league of the NHL.
Steve Thornton believes that Szwez is the exact type of player the Giants need right now.
"We have skilled players but we are lacking guys that are big and strong in the corners, that can get the puck to our skilled guys and use their strength to muscle their way to the net," he said.
"Szwez has been playing at a much higher level than what the Elite League is, and the reports we received on him say that he is a fierce competitor, tough as nails and can put the puck in the net", he added.
Szwez is expected into Belfast on Tuesday morning and should be on the ice with his new teammates on Wednesday morning.
He will play his first match as a Giant on Saturday against the Nottingham Panthers.
© UTV News