Belfast general manager Todd Kelman with Boston president Cam Neely

NHL side Boston Bruins are to visit the UK to play a challenge match with a Belfast Giants Selects side in October.

The Bruins will face a squad made up of players from the Giants and the other Elite League clubs.

The game will take place on Saturday, 2 October, with the Giants hosting Nottingham Panthers in an Elite League match on the same weekend.

Giants general manager Todd Kelman said: "This is a big day for the Giants and a big day for the entire league."

The Bruins are one of the most famous hockey teams in the NHL and one of the league's original six teams, officially forming back in 1924.

It'll be awesome. My mom is from Belfast. I'm excited about this. I've been talking about it since we first heard about it Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton

"We are really looking forward to welcoming the Bruins over to Belfast to see our great city and to let our fans see one of the best teams in the world," added Kelman.

Boston have won five Stanley Cups in their team history and last season, the Bruins made it to the semi-finals of the Stanley Cup play-offs, eventually bowing out to the Philadelphia Flyers in the final match of their seven-game series.

Bruins forward Shawn Thornton told the Boston Herald: "It'll be awesome. My mom is from Belfast. I'm excited about this. I've been talking about it since we first heard about it."

Nottingham Panthers general manager Gary Moran added: "Todd has had more than a few sleepless nights putting this thing together.

"From the off we said the Panthers would be involved and he has kept us up-to-date throughout the last couple of months or so.

"This is a big coup for our league and something everyone should be proud of."

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