Having made his home in Belfast, 31-year-old Colin Ward and his family are happy to do the business again at the Odyssey arena.

"I'm very happy to continue my tenure wth the Giants," said Ward

"It's taken a while to thrash out the numbers, but we've got there.

''I never wanted to go anywhere else. I'm proud to say Belfast is my home.

''The city and the people have, and continue to, treat me and my family very well.

''If coach Dave Whistle wants to get rid of me he'll have to physically kick me out.''

"This will be our sixth season together and I always know what I'm getting with Wardy,'' he said.

''He works hard every night and gives it everything he's got, he doesn't know any other way.

''I hope he continues to put up the kind of numbers he did last year, he deserves every goal he gets because he works hard for them," said Whistle.

"He's a funny guy and plays an important role in the locker room as well as out there on the ice.

''He keeps everyone loose with his wisecracks, he keeps them laughing.

"He's a very confident guy but at the same time very realistic.''