The Belfast Giants have secured their first trophy of the season, defeating the Cardiff Devils 4-0 to win the Challenge Cup at the SSE Arena. Adam Keefe’s side, already unbeaten against Cardiff in five previous meetings this season, produced a dominant performance that saw them take control early.

It was Ciaran Long who put the Giants ahead early, betting home a rebound from a deflected shot by Elijah Barriga at 6:25, a goal that would eventually prove to be a game-winner. J.J. Piccinich doubled the lead 58 seconds before the first period.

The game was effectively decided in the second period. Just 89 seconds after the restart, Jordan Kawaguchi blasted a one-timer into the net to make it 3-0. Mark Cooper added a fourth just 2:45 into the frame.

At the other end, Jackson Whistle was flawless in goal, stopping all 37 shots he faced to secure a second consecutive shutout against the Devils.

The win marks a record-breaking achievement for head coach Adam Keefe, who has now led the Giants to five Challenge Cup titles in seven seasons. With the Elite League title still within reach, Belfast’s triumph keeps the possibility of a second grand slam in three years firmly alive.

As Jackson Whistle has shared "I'm pumped for it. Super happy for the guys. Any time you get the chance to lift a trophy on home ice it's a special feeling. Love to be able to do it here in front of the fans”.

He further added that "It's nice to get a shut-out but any time you do it really is a team effort, and I thought the guys played fantastic tonight. For me, the whole thing with Cardiff is they're a really good team and it's about trying not to give them any life. They came out hard in the first period, but we weathered it and in the second and third we took over”.