Adam Keefe has been named Captain of the Stena Line Belfast Giants for the 2012/13 season. Robby Sandrock and Craig Peacock have been named as the Assistant Captains and Noah Clarke will be part of the leadership team that will be looking to defend the Elite League Championship the Giants won last season.

Keefe is in his second season with the Giants after playing a key role in the championship winning season of 2011/12. He served as an Assistant Captain last year with the Giants and was voted to lead this year’s team by his teammates. In 59 games last season, Keefe scored 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points while leading the way on the league’s most effective penalty-killing unit. He also led the team in penalty minutes with 247, good for 4th in the league.

Keefe’s no nonsense style of play and willingness to sacrifice everything to win makes him the natural selection to step into the role of Captain this season.

Robby Sandrock, who returned to the Giants after 9 seasons in Continental Europe, will be one of the Assistant Captains. Sandrock is the only defenceman to ever lead the Giants in scoring, a feat he accomplished back in 2002/03 on route to the Giants Superleague Playoff Championship. At the time, he was the youngest player on the team, but with 9 more years of pro hockey under his belt, Sandrock is an older, steadier presence that the team recognized when they picked him to be an Assistant Captain. Sandrock picked up 4 assists last weekend against Tilburg and will be a leader on defence, playing a lot of minutes in every situation all season long.

At the ripe old age of 24, Craig Peacock is coming off his best season as a pro after leading the Giants in scoring with 78 points last year (29 goals and 49 assists) in 62 games. He is going into his 4th season in the Elite Ice Hockey League, all of which have been spent in Belfast. He has already won a playoff title in 2010 during his rookie season, then last season he played on the top line and was the leading scorer on the League Champions.

Coach Doug Christiansen spoke about the selections the team made earlier today.

“Leadership is one of the most important components to any team. In a dressing room full of former captains, these four were voted to be their leaders. Keefe plays with tremendous passion and intensity and will say what needs and do what it takes to win at all costs.

“Sandrock has a fantastic rapport with the players already and has emerged as someone we can rely on. We expect him to be one of the top defencemen in the league this season.

“For Peacock, this is a natural progression. He has won titles, been a finalist for British Player of the Year and been an extremely hard worker improving each season during his 3 years in Belfast. He is well liked and dedicated.

“Finally, Noah Clarke is a proven player who has great leadership skills. He is a quiet leader who will be one of the best players in the league this year. He has the ability to boost the offensive production of any team and he quietly commands respect from his teammates by his work ethic on and off the ice and the way he plays the game.”

The new Captains will lead the Giants into their first official competitive match on Saturday in Braehead when they take on the Clan in Challenge Cup action.