Belfast ‘the place to be’ for NHL giant Vandermeer

Having played well over 400 games in the NHL, Jim Vandermeer has told UTV he doesn’t think there is anywhere he would rather be more than Belfast after settling into life with the Giants.

Given his extensive experience in ice hockey’s top league, the Canadian self-confessed “defensive defenceman” caused a stir when he first signed up with the Belfast side at the tail-end of last season.

And his influence on the ice – mixing enforcer capabilities with goal-scoring ability – meant fans were even more delighted to hear that he was making a return for another stint in teal.

How differently things could have worked out, with Vandermeer originally resigning himself to the possibility of retirement after parting company with the Kloten Flyers of Switzerland’s NLA.

Exactly who the credit goes to for bringing him to Belfast is a little unclear now though …

“I’m still trying to figure out if it was Derrick (Coach Walser) calling me or Dave (teammate and relative David Rutherford),” Vandermeer smiled.

“Obviously last year, the Giants had some defensive injuries and were kind of struggling a bit to find their consistency … I bought out of my contract in Switzerland and had a couple of offers, but nothing that really looked that great.

“It was February by the time I came here, so it was getting pretty late in the season and I figured if I didn’t find a place to play that season, I was probably done.”

Whoever the call was from, Belfast proved to be the perfect fit - so much so that Vandermeer hasn’t just returned for another short stint with the Giants, he’s signed a two-year deal.

Vandermeer didn’t take long to make his presence felt following his return.

A bad hit on Rutherford during a rather feisty so-called “friendly” encounter in the pre-season saw the gloves come off against Jordan Owens of the visiting Fischtown Pinguins.

Potential opponents will have got the message loud and clear that you don’t mess with a former NHL enforcer’s teammates.

It was just unfortunate that Vandermeer proved a little too tough for his own good, with some huge punches actually resulting in him breaking his own hand on Owens’ head.

“I used to think I was a little stronger than that,” he said, with a wry smile.

“I broke my hand getting in a scrap. That’s what happens when you get old and brittle, I guess. It’s not going to change my game too much. I’ll play hard if it comes to that sort of stuff.”

While the 36-year-old has since returned to action, his time out injured at least wasn’t all bad.

“The record speaks for itself – you can show Wally (Walser),” he joked, referring to his unofficial stint as ‘bench coach’ alongside Rob Stewart.

“We ended up doing pretty good ... The guys played great when I was injured and standing behind them.”

Looking back over his time in the NHL, playing for six different teams around that league – Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks - Vandermeer has a wealth of positive memories.

“I worked my whole life to get there and to achieve and nobody can take that away from me," he said.

"I look back and really enjoy those memories and the people and the cities that I’ve got to see."

But his experiences also instilled a belief in him that it was the responsibility of guys like him to find a way to give back – to be part of the community that embraces its team.

That is an ethos that has long been at the heart of what it means to be a Belfast Giant.

“For us to get where we are and what we’ve accomplished in our careers – and, you know, we’re playing a game for a living - any way we can use that leverage to give back in any way, I think it’s really important that guys do that,” Vandermeer said.

On the ice, the Giants are in for a busy weekend as they face Braehead Clan in Challenge Cup action in Belfast before travelling to Sheffield to face the Steelers in an Elite League game.

Coming off the back of a narrow overtime defeat against another top side in the Cardiff Devils, Vandermeer believes his team are capable of being right up there in the fight for silverware.

He’s expecting their opponents on both Saturday and Sunday to come out flying and wants the Giants to match that energy, adding: “I think for us to keep getting better, we need to make sure we stay sharp.”

A successful season on the ice would go perfectly with how the Vandermeer family has settled into the city – one they have heard good things about from even former Giants.

“Theo Fleury, I ran into him this summer at Memorial Cup in Red Deer (Alberta, Canada),” Vandermeer said.

“We’d ran into each other a couple of times back in Calgary when he was going to make his comeback with the Flames and, unfortunately that didn’t turn out for him, but I know him a little bit.

“When I ran into him, I mentioned that I was in Belfast and he said how much he enjoyed his time when he was here.”

NHLers are certainly no strangers to Belfast and it seems to make sense that giants of the sport would find they fit in perfectly in the land of the Giants.

• WATCH: Jim Vandermeer on his NHL career, dropping the gloves, becoming a Giant, and life in Belfast