Gélinas becomes the 202nd player to ice for the Giants and will make his debut in the two exhibition games against Manitoba Bisons at The SSE Arena later this month.
The 25-year old 5’10”, defenceman arrives in Belfast from HC Banska Bystrica of Slovakia and joins the Giants blueline for the upcoming Elite League season.
Gélinas played his junior hockey for the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and received the Emile Bouchard Trophy as the league’s Best Defenceman during the 2013/14 season. That season the Foreurs claimed the QMJHL Championship with Gélinas posting 23 goals and 69 assists, good for 92 points in 67 games.
On 1st July 2014 Gélinas signed a three year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and featured for their affiliate teams, Iowa Wild and Quad City Mallards, over the following three seasons. With the Wild in the AHL, Gélinas posted four goals and five assists in 63 games with the defenceman playing 104 ECHL games for Quad City and posting 18 goals and 40 assists.
Gélinas ended his entry-level deal with the Wild and signed a one year deal with HC Banska Bystrica last season where he helped his team clinch the Slovakian National Championship.
New signing Guillaume Gélinas spoke with Patrick Smyth, A View From The Bridge Podcast, on his arrival in Belfast and said: “I spoke with friends who played in Belfast and they only had great things to say about the city, the team and the fans – so it was a ‘no brainer’ and I am really excited to play there.
“I really like to play as offensive as possible and I believe the larger ice surfaces in Europe suit my game well. I like to jump into the play though I want to be able to help the team defensively too.
“I am a winner and want to win at every opportunity. This season is no exception. Coach Keefe talked to me about the four championships available and I want to help the Giants win every one of those.”
