Belfast win Eihl Challenge Cup

Belfast Giants beat Cardiff Devils in overtime to secure the 2022 Premier Sports Challenge Cup in front of 7,319 spectators at the SSE Arena, Belfast.

Period One was a stalemate although Giants had the best of the chances, with Cardiff relying on the speed of their forwards to counter the offensive.

However, Devils raced to an early lead just four minutes into the second stanza as good work on the boards by Cole Sanford allowed him to get a pass to JAKE COUGHLER and his shot, of balance, beat Beskorowany in the net.

Ten minutes later a breakaway allowed a saucer pass from Cougler to set up SANFORD  to double the lead.

The game turned back level in a three-minute spell at the beginning of period three. Tyler Soy batted home a rebound from a Lewis Hook shot to bring the Giants back to within one at 42:13, and at 45:08 the SSE Arena erupted when David Goodwin scored in the slot to tie things up.

Despite chances at both ends the game drifted into overtime and after four minutes LEWIS HOOK scrambled a lose puck home to give the Giants the win with a goal that saw the Arena erupt with celebration.