Todd Kelman
Encyclopedia
Todd Kelman is a retired Canadian
ice hockey
defenceman who is currently the General Manager of the Belfast Giants
of the Elite Ice Hockey League
, having been an original member of the first Giants squad that played in the old Ice Hockey Superleague
in the 2000–01 season. He won the Superleague title twice, once with the Giants in 2001–02 (a mere one season after the team was founded) and previously with the Bracknell Bees
two seasons earlier in 1999–00. He also won the Superleague Playoff Championship and the Elite League with the Giants in 2002–03 and 2005–06 respectively. During his tenure at the Giants, 'The Killer' became a huge favourite amongst the fans for his offensive style of play that created goals for the Giants as well as his strong defensive style and solid penalty killing. In seven seasons he played 366 games, more than any other player in Giants history. He is also the leading points scoring defenceman in Giants history with 67 goals and 122 assists for 189 points. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Kelman retired as a player and began his new role as General Manager. He did however play 14 more games for the Giants during the 2007–08 season to cover for the injured Roman Gavalier
.
In three seasons as a General Manager, Kelman and the Giants have won the Challenge Cup and British Knock Out Cup (both in the 2008/09 season) and most recently the Playoff Championship in 2010. His two seasons working with Steve Thornton
proved to be the most successful on the ice in the ten years of the Giants existence.
Recently, Kelman secured an exhibition game for the named "Belfast Giants Select" (featuring the best players from the Elite League), against the world famous NHL side, the Boston Bruins
. The game took place at the Odyssey Arena on October 2, 2010, with the Bruins securing a 5-1 victory.
Kelman was drafted 141st overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft
, but never played a game having spent his career at college for Bowling Green State University
before joining the Bees in 1997.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman who is currently the General Manager of the Belfast Giants
Belfast Giants
The Belfast Giants are an ice hockey team from Belfast, Northern Ireland that compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Home games are played at the 7,100-capacity Odyssey Arena in Belfast....
of the Elite Ice Hockey League
Elite Ice Hockey League
Several competitions fall under the jurisdiction of the Elite League. In 2006–07, the EIHL ran a total of four competitions: the league, playoffs, Challenge Cup and Knockout Cup. The league consists of a single division, each team playing three home games and three away games against the other...
, having been an original member of the first Giants squad that played in the old Ice Hockey Superleague
Ice Hockey Superleague
The Ice Hockey Superleague was a professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom between 1996 and 2003. Formed in 1995, it replaced the Premier Division of the British Hockey League, it was the highest level of ice hockey competition in the United Kingdom...
in the 2000–01 season. He won the Superleague title twice, once with the Giants in 2001–02 (a mere one season after the team was founded) and previously with the Bracknell Bees
Bracknell Bees
The Bracknell Bees are an ice hockey team from Bracknell, Berkshire, UK.-Early years:The Bracknell Bees were formed in 1987, under the ownership of John Nike OBE. Bees began life in the Heineken League Division Two, under the leadership of former Durham Wasps and Nottingham Panthers forward, Jamie...
two seasons earlier in 1999–00. He also won the Superleague Playoff Championship and the Elite League with the Giants in 2002–03 and 2005–06 respectively. During his tenure at the Giants, 'The Killer' became a huge favourite amongst the fans for his offensive style of play that created goals for the Giants as well as his strong defensive style and solid penalty killing. In seven seasons he played 366 games, more than any other player in Giants history. He is also the leading points scoring defenceman in Giants history with 67 goals and 122 assists for 189 points. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Kelman retired as a player and began his new role as General Manager. He did however play 14 more games for the Giants during the 2007–08 season to cover for the injured Roman Gavalier
Roman Gavalier
Roman Gavalier is a Slovak ice hockey defenceman.Gavalier joined the Belfast Giants in 2004, joining from his hometown HK Aquacity ŠKP Poprad, scoring 4 goals and 8 assists for 12 points in 55 games. After spending a year in Poland for Unia Oświęcim, Gavalier signed up to return to Belfast for the...
.
In three seasons as a General Manager, Kelman and the Giants have won the Challenge Cup and British Knock Out Cup (both in the 2008/09 season) and most recently the Playoff Championship in 2010. His two seasons working with Steve Thornton
Steve Thornton
Steve Thornton is a Canadian ice hockey player.- Career :Apart from playing junior hockey with the Gloucester Rangers, college hockey with Boston University and one season in the International Hockey League with the Peoria Rivermen, Thornton's career has been played in Europe...
proved to be the most successful on the ice in the ten years of the Giants existence.
Recently, Kelman secured an exhibition game for the named "Belfast Giants Select" (featuring the best players from the Elite League), against the world famous NHL side, the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. The game took place at the Odyssey Arena on October 2, 2010, with the Bruins securing a 5-1 victory.
Kelman was drafted 141st overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft
1993 NHL Entry Draft
The 1993 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 26, 1993, at the Colisee de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise specified.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
, but never played a game having spent his career at college for Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
before joining the Bees in 1997.