Giants star Higgins calls time on hockey career

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Belfast Giants forward Chris Higgins has announced his retirement from hockey. Credit: Presseye

Belfast Giants fans are bidding farewell to star player Chris Higgins after he announced that he was retiring from hockey.

The 31-year-old American forward has been a popular addition to the Giants ranks, given the slick skills that earned him his ‘Belfast Datsyuk’ nickname.

His three seasons in teal and have generated plenty of highlight reel moments, with his creative play going viral and making headlines around the world on more than one occasion.

Higgins, a Massachusetts native who played NCAA hockey for Boston University, has played in the AHL and ECHL, as well in Italy and Sweden.

He first joined the Giants for the 2013/14 season, when he helped the Belfast side storm to an Elite League title win – with a record-breaking 10 games still to play.

Higgins made the move to the Nottingham Panthers the following year, but returned to Belfast after just one season for another two-year stint.

Chris Higgins, pictured scoring an overtime winner past the Sheffield Steelers. Credit: Presseye

Fans had been hoping he would make his return in teal for the season ahead, but it has now been confirmed that will not be happening.

Speaking from Boston to Davy McGimpsey from the Giants’ official A View From The Bridge podcast, Higgins confessed that it had been a very tough decision.

While he feels he still has plenty of hockey in him, having just got married last summer, he said: “It’s just time to move on to the next stage of my life.”

Higgins said he had really loved his time in Belfast with his Giants teammates, and was particularly sad to go just as player Adam Keefe takes over as head coach.

“Keefer’s one of the best captains I’ve ever had and I think he’s going to be an unbelievable coach,” he said.

“It was a tough decision because I feel like I would have liked to play one year for Keefer … But, unfortunately, it was just time to hang ‘em up.”

While Higgins says “never say never” when it comes to the prospect of a change of heart, he also says it is simply time to “give the real world a chance”.

His retirement comes as former Giants coach Derrick Walser takes up his new role as assistant coach with junior Ontario Hockey League side the Peterborough Petes.

He departed Belfast after two seasons in charge and is replaced by captain-turned-coach Adam Keefe, with Giants legend Rob Stewart returning as assistant coach.