How Does the Belfast Giants Challenge Cup Work?
The Belfast Giants Challenge Cup campaign starts with a four-team group, followed by a route into the semi-finals. It is a separate competition from the Elite League, so cup victories do not add points to Belfast’s league title defence. The Belfast Giants fixtures against Dundee on 2 and 4 October are cup matches with their own qualification stakes.
Which teams are in Belfast’s group?
Belfast play Dundee Stars, Fife Flyers and Glasgow Clan in Group B. Each opponent is faced twice at home and twice away, giving the Giants 12 group games.
That repetition explains why familiar opponents keep appearing before Belfast’s league programme begins. It also means one poor night against Dundee can be answered later, although dropped points still affect the group table. Group A contains Cardiff, Coventry, Guildford, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield. Those six clubs play each opponent once at home and once away, for ten games each.
How do points and qualification work?
Every group game produces a winner. A tie after 60 minutes goes to overtime and, if necessary, a shootout.
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| Win, including overtime or shootout | 2 |
| Overtime or shootout defeat | 1 |
| Regulation defeat | 0 |
Belfast’s route depends on their final Group B position:
- First: qualify directly for the semi-finals.
- Second: face Group A’s third-placed team in a one-off elimination game.
- Third or fourth: miss the knockout stages.
Group A’s top two qualify automatically, giving three direct semi-finalists and one place decided by the elimination game. There is no conventional quarter-final round.
The two group winners receive the top seeds, ordered by win percentage. Within a group, tied points are separated first by regulation wins, then total wins, before further criteria apply. Goals alone are not the first tie-breaker.
When are Belfast Giants v Dundee Stars?
Friday takes the Giants to Dundee Ice Arena; Sunday brings the same opponent back to Belfast. Both fixtures feed the Challenge Cup table.
| Fixture | Date | Local time |
|---|---|---|
| Dundee v Belfast | Friday 2 October | 7.30pm |
| Belfast v Dundee | Sunday 4 October | 5pm |
Sunday’s game is at The O2 Belfast. The times are the same for supporters travelling from elsewhere on the island of Ireland.
A double-header feels like a running argument on ice: Friday sets the tone, Sunday lets both teams answer back. For a new supporter, watching the pair is a useful introduction to how quickly momentum can change.
Why has Belfast’s Elite League campaign not started?
The league itself began on 20 September. Belfast’s opening league match is away to Coventry on Saturday 10 October, so the Giants are playing competitive cup hockey while waiting for their own league schedule to begin. The Elite League champion is determined across 54 regular-season games per team. The Challenge Cup has its own trophy and knockout stages; the end-of-season playoffs form another separate competition.
Belfast Giants odds and markets explained
Friday’s result should inform Sunday’s judgement. These are editorial minimum decimal prices for the home return, not live BetVictor quotes; first check whether the markets are listed.
Our ice hockey betting guide explains the market differences. Confirm whether the handicap includes overtime, because that small detail can change the settlement.
BetoThe bold one
BeniThe conservative one18+. New customers only. Minimum odds, qualifying bets and promotional restrictions apply. Gamble responsibly.
