"If it was easy everybody would do it. That’s the best part about this, it’s hard!" Jeff Baum on Belfast Giants record-setting seventh league title

 

Last weekend the Belfast Giants etched their names, once again, in the EIHL history books with a record-setting seventh league title. A dramatic win for the men in teal, away in Nottingham in the final minutes of the season, was a fitting end to a spectacular season and though there are still play off games to contend with, the club have made sure to celebrate their success. We caught up with Jeff Baum to see just how much fun was had and to hear about how he keeps focused for the games still to come.

“It’s a very unique situation to win a trophy and still have - hopefully - four more games to keep playing. It’s a great honour to have finished out the league season the way we wanted to and to be able to celebrate that together…. That sigh of relief that we’ve been able to accomplish a goal we set ourselves at the beginning of the season. That’s two goals checked off, from the three we set ourselves at the beginning of every season. Now it’s time to reset our mindset, get back to work and focus on the simple things we know can help us.”

A unique situation indeed, so much so that the league trophy wasn’t immediately on hand to present to the team at the final buzzer. That was quickly rectified though and the scenes on the ice were a joy to watch. The celebrations spilled out onto the streets of Nottingham, and even to George Best Airport where fans formed a welcoming committee for the returning, slightly bleary-eyed, players and coaches.

“Maybe we celebrated a little too hard, but you’ve got to in moments like that! It’s a long season, a grind. Eight months of work. So when you get that sense of relief, to be able to move on and celebrate victory together, it’s a lot of fun. Now though, we’re trying to refocus our brains on the games to come and getting excited about that challenge.

“If it was easy everybody would do it. I think that’s the best part about this, it’s hard! We all accept that challenge and work together to try and accomplish that goal.”

That next challenge comes in the form of the Dundee Stars, whose eighth place finish disguises the fact they have been something of a banana skin for the Giants this season, something Baum is very open about. “They've been very competitive the last couple of times we've played them. Their goaltender, Jarrett Fiske, has been really good. He's a classmate of mine from college, so it's good to see him doing well, but at the same time I’m ready to get under his skin a little bit and try and pepper him a couple times.

“For us, it’s maintaining our mindset, staying focused on ourselves and not getting lost in the moment or carried away with what’s in front of us. Stay focused on the things that we know have been successful for us throughout the season and we will make sure we play the best we can and get the outcome we want.”

“We’re very lucky” Jeff tells me when I ask about the experience of being a Belfast Giant. “From our management to the coaches to, well, everybody. They do such an incredible job and it shows during the game, all the fans are so involved. It's such an atmosphere (at the SSE Arena). Even from my first year to now, it's grown so much. You know, nearly every game, I think this season has been a sellout. It's just really cool. We're really thankful for the marketing team doing everything those guys do. You can see the game is growing to a younger audience as well. And I think, first of all, that's huge for UK hockey to be able to get kids out to come and watch teams play, give them the opportunity. Who knows, maybe somebody decides they want to give this sport a chance.”

Exactly the sort of response you’d expect from someone who has grown, over his four years in Belfast, into a leader on the Giants roster. A growth that was rewarded with a role as alternate captain this season.

“It's an honour and a privilege to get a letter at any level, and I think that in our locker room - and this goes back to recruitment that everybody does in the summer - we've got 20 leaders. Everybody's a leader in their own way, and brings a certain side to the game that we need at all times. I think that is one reason why we're so successful. We all trust in each other; we believe in each other and everybody's a leader and pushes each other to be the best that we can each and every day.”

It's clear that Belfast is firmly under Baum’s skin, and if a guy who grew up under the Texas sun can fall in love with a cold, wet, Belfast winter, it’s because the club has been so welcoming. He talks openly about how he feels people have embraced the team and the kindness of those around him. When I ask how he feels that his dad has become something of a celebrity in the Giants fan base, he points at how his whole family are made to feel so at home. It’s fitting then, that his last words are for those fans as he looks ahead to a home game on Saturday night.

“Thank you for all the support you’ve given us throughout the season. LFG!”