Pre-Season Ice Hockey Results: Last Night’s Showstoppers

Big saves, wild lead changes, and plenty of drama on the ice

What a night for ice hockey fans! The pre-season delivered everything you could hope for: high-octane action, highlight-reel goals, and a pair of games that kept us all on the edge of our seats.

Belfast Giants vs Stavanger Oilers: A Rollercoaster in Belfast

If you missed this one, you’ll want to catch the highlights. The Belfast Giants and Stavanger Oilers traded blows in a match where momentum swung like a pendulum. Stavanger started brightest, peppering Jackson Whistle’s net early, but the Belfast goalie was up to the test with some stellar saves—including a breakaway robbery that got the crowd buzzing. Piccinich got the Giants on the board first with a fortuitous deflection at 10:59, but Stavanger weren’t behind for long.

Early in the second, the Oilers struck twice in just 43 seconds—Cliff Watson , then Patrick Rørbu Elvsveen pouncing on a rebound. With Belfast under siege, Whistle stood tall, turning away all sorts of danger. The Giants stayed in the hunt, even as Stavanger rattled the iron twice.

The third period was pure hockey chaos. Lee fired home the equalizer midway through, and Eriksson followed up with an outrageous solo goal to put the Giants ahead. But blink and you missed it—Watson hammered in the tying goal just 14 seconds later. Then, with under two minutes left, Pedersen found the winner for Stavanger, sneaking a shot past Whistle's. The Giants pushed for more in overtime but couldn’t convert, though they did claim some glory in the shootout, with Lake, Eriksson, and Conway all scoring, and Whistle turning aside three of four Oilers attempts.

Glasgow Clan vs Herlev Eagles: A Tense Season Opener

Over at Braehead Arena, the Glasgow Clan opened their season against Denmark’s Herlev Eagles in a nail-biting 3-3 draw. Both teams came out flying, but it was Herlev’s Brock Bremer who broke the deadlock, finishing a slick end-to-end rush. Clan’s new goalie Sami Aittokallio was tested early and often, making 11 stops in the first period alone—including a dazzling double save.

The goals (and the penalties) came thick and fast in the second. Cade Neilson’s blue-line blast leveled it for Glasgow, but Goransson quickly struck back for Herlev. Felix Paré then tipped home to tie it once more, and Chris McKay’s gritty finish gave Clan their first lead.

The final frame was all-out intensity—end-to-end rushes, close calls, and plenty of rough stuff as both teams battled to break the deadlock. Eventually, Gustav Green took advantage of a crafty Cubars assist to tie the game for Herlev. When the buzzer sounded, the stats were as tight as the scoreline: 17 shots apiece, eight penalty minutes each, and two teams who left it all out there ahead of their next clash.

If this is any indication, we’re in for a pre-season full of thrills and unforgettable moments. Both the Giants and Clan showed resilience and flashes of brilliance—while Stavanger and Herlev proved they’re dangerous opponents. Stay tuned: hockey is back, and it’s as dramatic as ever!