NHLer Vandermeer joins Giants coaching team

Former NHLer Jim Vandermeer is returning to the Belfast Giants for a third season, combining his on-ice role with assistant coach duties.

The 37-year-old Canadian defenceman, who has a wealth of NHL experience, proved a popular addition to the Giants line-up when he first made the move to Belfast with his family.

Having previously played for teams like the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks, he now joins the Giants coaching team.

Vandermeer will serve as an assistant coach alongside teammate Brandon Benedict, supporting head coach Adam Keefe in his first campaign at the helm.

Last season, he posted eight goals and 17 assists, good for 25 points and 87 penalty minutes in 50 games played.

“I know our fans love his style of play and the size he adds to our blue line,” Keefer said.

It comes after the Giants announced a day earlier that they had snapped up Canadian forward Brendan Connolly from Rungsted in Denmark.

The 31-year-old, whose father hails from Newry in Co Down, helped his team to the Danish Championship and was the league’s most penalised player with 187 penalty minutes.

He was also fifth in the league’s points standings with 20 goals and 28 assists, good for 48 points in 42 games played.

Connolly has previously played alongside fellow Giants Ryan Martinelli – with Fehérvár in the Austrian Hockey League - and Blair Riley at NCAA level for Ferris State University.

Keefe hailed him as an exciting player to watch and “a fierce competitor who will be a thorn in the side of everyone he plays against”.

Connolly told the Giants’ official podcast A View From The Bridge: “I play with a lot of speed and try to take advantages of any opportunity I get.

“I’m a scorer who has an edge to my game - I am not afraid to get into the corners or in front of the net and mix things up.

“I will play hard and Giants fans will see the best effort from myself on every game night.”