Blair Riley wins big at Giants Awards
Here's all the winners from the Stena Line Belfast Giants Awards held at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast last night
Last updated 27th Mar 2017
Belfast Giants forward Blair Riley walked away with the night's biggest honour, named Most Valuable Player at the team's annual awards event held at Crown Plaza Hotel in Belfast.
Riley who arrived in Belfast straight from the American Hockey League's Stockton Heat showed his popularity among his fellow Giants as he collected the 'Player's Player of the Year' and then was narrowly pipped by highlight reel specialist Chris Higgins to the top scorer award with 71 points from 28 goals & 43 assists over the 52 Elite league regular season and 12 Challenge Cup games this season.
In their respective positions earlier, former NHL'er Jim Vandermeer was named Defenceman of the Year and Chris Higgins taking home the Forward Of The Year
The fans favourite of the year was forward David Rutherford and player coach Derrick Walser selected Steve Saviano as Coach's Player of the Year.
Mark Garside was awarded the season's Unsung Hero.
The night also paid tribute to the club's Honorary Life President, Jim Gillespie, renaming the Community Service award, the President's award which was collected by Adam Keefe.
The biggest cheer of the night was reserved for young Blake McCaughey, selected by the fans as March's Player of the Month after his man of the match scoring debut against Sheffield.
Giants next in action this Saturday night against Fife Flyers in the Elite League Playoff 1/4 Final with faceoff at 7pm. Tickets are on sale now from ticketmaster.ie