Giants in Finland! As in the Belfast Giants who will face off against Finland's Lukko Rauma to start their third season among Europe's very best ice hockey teams.

The team from Northern Ireland enter the new Champions Hockey League season after a historic season that saw them win everything there was to win domestically. But don't be fooled - all this success hasn't left the Giants sleepyheaded. The EIHL club has had a super off-season, picking up not one, not two but 12+ new signings...

This new Belfast team features players from Norway, Denmark, North America and even Finland. An interesting signing is Kohei Sato who will become one of the first, if not the very first, players from Japan to play in Europe's elite club ice hockey competition. 

Last season, Belfast exited the competition in the Group Stage, picking up a memorable 3-2 SO win over Oceláři Třinec, but with the new format seeing the team face six different opponents, the Giants could catch a few teams out with their hard-hitting and all-or-nothing play - keep an eye on this team!

Lukko, who are openly supported by Finland's current President, are a traditional team in the country and last won the championship as recently as 2021. Since then, they've been slightly overshadowed by juggernauts Tappara Tampere who have won Liiga back-to-back and even conquered Europe last seaon, hoisting the European Trophy high into the air late last season.

Lukko, eager to get back to the very top, have also been very active in strengthening their roster. The 2015/16 CHL Semi-Finalists have made 9+ signings, including SHL and AHL players.

Their goal for this season? "Succeed," said Head Coach Tomi Lämsä. 

What will they be expecting from Belfast? “An experienced and most-likely physical and straight-forward team. Lots of North American players on their team and it shows in their style of hockey. Inarguably the crown jewel of modern hockey in the UK,” said Lämsä, praising the EIHL team.