12 Mar 2025, 17:30 | Regular season | FINAL | SSE Arena Belfast |
Belfast Giants | 4-0 | Cardiff Devils |
Periods: Shots: | 2-0 ( - ) | 2-0 ( - ) | 0-0 ( - ) |
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Referees: #14 Chris Wells, Dalton  |  Spectators: 6149 |
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Goals and assists
Belfast Giants are 2025 Challenge Cup Champions!
The Giants took the first silverware of the season with a 4-0 victory over Cardiff Devils at a sold-out SSE Arena in Belfast.
Jackson Whistle posted a 37-save shutout for the Giants en route to lifting the first trophy of the season.
The first period started balanced, with the Devils creating good pressure but the Giants dangerous on the break.
The
home side opened the scoring at 6:35 when a Gabe Bast shot rebounded
perfectly for Ciaran Long to bat it home. While the Devils had half
chances, they were caught the other way with 56 seconds remaining in the
period. The Giants broke 3-on-1 where Scott Conway fed JJ Piccinich to
double their advantage just before the break.
However the visitors
had drawn up getting back into the game in the second period, two goals
in under three minutes put them very much on the back foot. A rim
around the boards by Cody Donaghey took a weird bounce and landed
straight on the stick of Jordan Kawaguchi to fire past Mac Carruth 89
seconds into the middle frame. Then, 76 seconds later, Mark Cooper's
top-corner shot from the slot found its way past Carruth to make it 4-0.
The
Devils had chances as they pushed back towards the end of the period,
the best falling to Kohen Olischefski at the far post, but Whistle was
in no mood to be beaten.
Period three saw the Giants smother the
game out. Cardiff pushed but saw Joey Martin denied by an excellent low
pad save by Whistle, while throws across the next failed to make any
contact.
Whistle held on for his shut out, and the Giants celebrated their first Challenge Cup title since 2023.