Adam Keefe feeling back at home after returning to the Belfast Giants benchAdam Keefe feeling back at home after returning to the Belfast Giants bench

Adam Keefe feeling back at home after returning to the Belfast Giants bench

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Adam Keefe is back behind the Belfast Giants bench and that means three things are now in a much safer position – his television, the remote control and the coach’s own mentality.

eefe went through a range of emotions as he was forced to watch three matches from home while having to follow Covid-19 self-isolation guidance and being, to a large extent, powerless in terms of being able to impact on matches.

After a comprehensive 5-0 victory over the Nottingham Panthers followed by a Challenge Cup success against the Fife Flyers two weeks ago it seemed that the Giants could manage fine without their coach, but it was after last Saturday’s 7-1 humbling in Sheffield that Keefe came close to letting his frustrations get the better of him – with 10 days being coped up in one room of his house adding another layer.

“I’m back in my comfort zone I suppose after a long 10 days away from the group,” said Keefe, who returned for last Sunday’s 3-2 win over Glasgow Clan and will now be in full ocntrol for tonight’s trip to the Dundee Stars.

“I quite enjoyed the first weekend – the Nottingham/Fife weekend and it was a little bit the opposite last Saturday in Sheffield.

“At the start it was easy to be hands-off, but the Sheffield game, I didn’t think I could get as angry or emotional from my couch.

“Luckily I spared my TV that night and the remote control.

“It was a frustrating night for our team in Sheffield.”

Zoom calls with the team, regular conversations with trusted aides Jeff Mason and Rob Stewart went some way towards still being in charge – and relieving the boredom.

There was plenty for Keefe to do from home during the off-season, but working remotely at a time when the team is preparing for and playing matches was an impossible and challenging situation.

“It was difficult because you get surprised by the virus and it wasn’t something we were able to plan for,” said Keefe.

“Being a coach of any sporting team is the next best thing to being a player on that team.

“It has more challenges off the ice, but to sit back at home and watch the group having to go on the road and play, you want to be part of that, so it wasn’t fun sitting at home watching that.

“To get back to work and be part of the group, get to converse with the players and try to get better with them myself, that’s where we want to be.”

After getting back into the cut and thrust of things last weekend only made Keefe hungry for more.

This weekend, however, has turned out differently than expected after last night’s trip to Glasgow Clan was postponed earlier in the week.

Playing just one game on a weekend may, in theory, be an easier situation to deal with. Keefe, however, argues that will only be the case if the players deliver when they travel to face the Dundee Stars tonight.

“Some people would suggest that only having one game on a weekend is a positive – and it should be from an energy standpoint,” he said.

“You have to turn up and use the added energy that we should have as a result of not playing the night before. We want to go in there and put together a solid 60 minutes and compete.”

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