"Certain games you look to, maybe against like the likes of Cardiff or Sheffield or Nottingham" - Josh Roach looks to the season ahead for the Belfast Giants

With player announcements in full flow, CHL fixtures next month and the Elite League season hot on its heels what better time to get back to chatting with players on what they are up to and their thoughts on the season ahead. Fresh off announcing his return to the Belfast Giants we caught up with Josh Roach.

“We're starting to get close to that pre-pre-season time, so I’m enjoying a little bit more relaxing before we get back into it… it won't be long.” Roach tells us, before sharing how he has spent his summer. “I was home for a quick visit right at the end of the season and then we went on a little holiday, but other than that I've just been on the island. It's kind of nice to have some downtime in Belfast and explore around here a bit more.”

“You don't really get the opportunity many times to stay for summer in the place you play, so you get comfortable. This is year five for me, so it is really is like a second home and honestly, it feels more weird to go back to Canada than it does to come back here at this point.”

It's no surprise that if Josh considers Belfast a second home, he chooses to stay in the area for his summer break. It’s fair to assume then, that he didn’t really consider moving to another league or team at the end of last season? “Personally, for me, there really wasn't ever a doubt. To be able to be a part of the culture we've established here over the last four or five years and, like I said, making this kind of a second home, it's always an easy decision to stay in Belfast. As long as I'm playing, I would like to be a Giant, so it's nice to have that mutual feeling between both parties.”

Having the prospect of CHL games on the horizon makes staying with the Giants even more exciting. “Yeah, for me especially! I've been a part of two significant championship teams in Belfast, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to participate  in the CHL the following year for both times, so being able to compete against different opponents and do some traveling before our domestic league starts is good for the team. We can do some bonding and some team building and whatever else. Then we can find our footing against some quality opponents so when we do start with our regular season, we're already in our jam.”

Roach is now one of the senior members of the squad, certainly a leader on the ice with his no-nonsense, two-way play. Is it something he thinks about as he approaches games? “At this point in my career, it's kind of just doing what I do and hopefully it has a good influence. I know what works for me and what doesn't, and also what works day to day, just with like the sport and our careers. I think we have a very good group of older guys who have those leadership qualities. I think anytime you win as a group and there's guys who stay on the team, they become leaders.”

“So yeah, I'm excited that we have quite a few guys back from last year who'll provide some of that leadership. Then obviously the guys who have the letters on their jerseys do a good job with the locker room and the coaching staff and all of that kind of stuff behind the scenes too.”

One player who won’t be returning is Mark Cooper. After being a key player for the past four seasons, and captain for the last two, Coops has decided to hang up his skates and it would be remiss not to get Roach’s thoughts on his former colleague. “Unbelievable guy, unbelievable teammate! His work ethic, on and off the ice, is excellent. Every single teammate he's had can, I'm sure, attest to his oddness, but he's a great guy. And he's been a great leader for us!”

“… and you know, like the Giants fans have seen in years past, just because they hang up the skates doesn't mean they're done forever. So, who knows if we'll see Coops back in the field at some point?”

#77 IS BACK IN BELFAST! 🔥

A skilled and intelligent blueliner, Roach has been a vital part of the Giants’ success since first arriving in Belfast for the 2018/19 season.

🗞️ Read more → https://t.co/Cq30Yjucfi#WeAreGiants pic.twitter.com/lHnIARAe5H

— Belfast Giants (@BelfastGiants) July 9, 2025

Fixtures for the forthcoming season are released this weekend, and I have no doubt that most players have their eyes peeled for specific games. “I’ve been in the league for long enough where there's no real surprises. I think certain games you look to, maybe against like the likes of Cardiff or Sheffield or Nottingham, where we've built up a little bit of a rivalry and there's maybe some stuff carried over from years past. Those games are usually pretty competitive and fun to play. I think anytime you see those games, it's exciting.”

“Judging the moves, the league has made this year, every game is going to be competitive. I think that's a lot of fun for the players, to be able to go, into a game and have to play, not just show up and expect two points. It’s good for the league and good for the teams.”

Before I let him go, I ask Josh what it is that keeps him coming back to the Giants. “I would say what makes a good club become a great club is most definitely the fan base. We're fortunate enough to have one of those fan bases that puts us into that next tier. It's like a huge plus, that home ice advantage that having those fans brings. I would say there's a few teams in our league that are very similar. You go into their environments and it's hostile, it’s not an easy place for opponents to play in. Over the last few years,  being able to play in the CHL, to travel around and see how these other top tier organizations operate in Europe, we've been able to take a page out of their book and implement things that work for us individually and make the game not only enjoyable for the fans while the players are playing, but the intermissions and whatever else going on, it all creates a good atmosphere.”