The Belfast Giants have confirmed the return of young homegrown players Mack Stewart and Kell Beattie for next season.
The Giants believe the news highlights their commitment to developing local talent and is "a fitting way" for the team to tie off its summer recruitment campaign.
In their professional debuts last year, Stewart and Beattie each made double-digit appearances for the Giants, securing EIHL League and Challenge Cup winners’ medals, before going on to impressive performances at the Under 18 World Junior Championships with Team GB this summer.
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Stewart, son of Giants legend and assistant coach Rob Stewart, returns following an impressive first season in teal, making 18 appearances and collecting two assists before ultimately scoring his debut pro goal in a season-closing overtime win against the Sheffield Steelers.
This year, the 18-year-old left-winger/centreman will split his time between the Giants and Milton Keynes Lightning as part of a two-way deal. Securing a place on the Giants roster, alongside valuable ice time across the water in Milton Keynes represents an exciting new chapter in his career.
Belfast-born defenceman Beattie, will continue to skate with the Giants’ this season, with a two-way deal agreed with Scottish side, Solway Sharks. The deal follows a strong first season, where he played a core role in Solway’s NIHL National Championship and Playoff title wins, alongside 11 appearances on the blue line for the Giants, finishing the season with a plus/minus of +3.
Both players are products of the Junior Giants system, having met on-ice at just five years old. Both progressed through the Belfast U16 and U20 ranks, before making a move into the British lower leagues to further their development with ice time.
Commenting on the announcement, head coach Adam Keefe said: “Investing in local talent is incredibly important to this organisation. Mack and Kell made a big contribution on and off the ice last season, playing well beyond their years and helping the team out when we needed it most, and we see these players as a crucial part of the team.
“Mack has earned a place on the Giants roster this season and his two-way deal with Milton Keynes Lightning, will give him the opportunity to get regular ice time that is key to his development. Kell’s deal with Solway Sharks will allow him the flexibility to train and skate with the Giants, and we look forward to seeing him back at The SSE this season.
"Belfast is proud of its local players, and we will do all we can to continue to provide chances for young talent to grow and improve.”
Rob Stewart, Belfast Giants assistant coach and head of the Junior Giants programme said: “This is an exciting time for Mack and for Kell. These two-way contracts will help them build on the success of last season and the character-building experiences they have had, both with the Giants, Team GB and in the NIHL. There is quality pipeline of talent coming through the Junior Giants programme and this investment in young players is critical to the ongoing development of homegrown players.”
This final announcement signals the completion of the 2022/23 player roster, ahead of the season kickstarting later this month. Tickets for the 2022/2023 home Pre-Season, Premier Sports Elite League, Challenge Cup, and CHL home games at The SSE Arena, Belfast are on sale NOW. Tickets are available for purchase here.
More information and a full list of fixtures are available here.
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