This month, the Irish Post sat down with Belfast Giants head coach Adam Keefe to get an insight into how former Chelsea and Arsenal keeper Petr Čech ended up playing in goal for a Belfast Giants hockey team at the age of 41.
Cech is one of the finest ever Premier League goalkeepers and won everything in football, but ended up doing the Belfast Giants a favour when injuries affected their squad during their season.
Adam gave a full insight into Cech 's stints for the Belfast Giants, how he got there, the advice he imparted on the squad, and lots more.
Interviewer: "Firstly, how did the relationship between Petr Čech and the Belfast Giants first come about?"
Adam Keefe: "It came together through a charity game we held for Ukraine at the end of our troubled season two years ago. I messaged Petr through Guilford. I knew he had practiced with Guilford in the league, so I reached out to their coach to get his contact details and asked if he'd like to be part of that charity game. He loves to do things for charity and has a passion for the game," said Keefe. .
"I think Petr has a soft spot for the Belfast Giants because he won a championship here in football. That probably enticed him to join us. Through that, we got to know each other a little bit. Then, the next season, we had two goalies go down in one week, which is very rare. Given that we’re on an island, there aren’t many keepers available when we have injuries.
"There aren't a lot of guys we can draw from who can come and practice every day and then play games on the weekends. Fortunately, Petr had the ability and motivation to step in. I messaged him about potentially helping us out, and he was all for it. Not only that, but when he arrived, he was one of the hardest-working guys in practice. It's easy to see why he's had the success he's had."
Press Eye, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 25th November 2023. Photo by William Cherry/PresseyeBelfast Giants’ Petr Cech during Saturday night’s EIHL game against Glasgow Clan at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Photo by William Cherry/Presseye
Interviewer: "It’s impressive how much passion he has for hockey. Were you surprised by his enthusiasm and knowledge of the game, because I know that he said that hockey was so expensive as kid and that's why he went into football."
Adam Keefe: "Yeah, I was impressed. Initially, I didn’t know much about him, to be honest, because I’m not really a football guy. It wasn’t until we brought him here that I really looked into his career," added Adam.
"I spent a lot of time with Petr during his time with us, and we had many conversations about his career and the adversity he’s faced. Coming from the Czech Republic, it’s no surprise that he has a deep love for hockey. Their national team recently won the World Hockey Championship, so that’s a huge deal for them.
"The kit required for a goalie in ice hockey is expensive, and that’s one of the reasons Petr said he chose football—he couldn’t afford the hockey equipment. He even said if he could’ve played hockey, he would have. So, I wasn’t surprised by his love for the game.
"During his time playing football, he was teaching himself how to be a hockey goalie. That’s impressive considering he was still playing football professionally at the time. Now that he’s retired from football, he has the chance to pursue that second dream, and we were happy to be a part of it. We even got him into a game last year, which was a great experience for him."
Interviewer: "Was there a period of adjustment for Petr, especially with the Belfast accent? Some people find it hard to understand."
Adam Keefe: "I think Petr is used to dealing with different languages and accents. He speaks four or five languages, and he learnt them to better communicate with teammates from different countries," said Keefe with a smile.
"I’m sure he may have struggled with the Belfast accent a little when he was out in public, but within the team, we have 17 North Americans and the rest are from England, so he would have been used to those accents. Maybe our other keeper, Andrew Dixon’s accent, gave him some trouble, though."
Interviewer: "I saw a video of Petr getting a standing ovation when he made his first appearance in a game against the Glasgow Clan. What was that like?"
Adam Keefe: "It was a very competitive match that we needed to win, so we started with our usual netminder. But once we felt we had the game under control, we decided to give Petr some ice time. The fans were demanding it, chanting, "We want Petr."
"It was great to get him out there, and we’d love to see him play more. His competitiveness and focus are what made him a great football keeper, and I have no doubts he would excel in ice hockey too. It’s just a different environment for him, but he has all the attributes of a top-tier athlete."
Interviewer: "Petr still wears a helmet due to the injury he suffered in football, which is tragic, but his love for hockey is obvious. What kind of wisdom has he imparted to your team from his time in football?"
Adam Keefe: "Petr has been great for the players. He has so many stories and experiences from both football and hockey. He’s a massive hockey fan and keeps up with everything going on in the NHL and our league. He’s a big sportsman.
"For me and for the players, it was inspiring to see someone who’s had so much success in one sport be so motivated to excel in another. He was always positive, always working hard, and that’s a great example for our guys.
"When we had the opportunity to bring him back this season, it was a no-brainer. He even flew in the night before we did a trek up the mountains. I told him he didn’t need to come, but he was already on his way to buy hiking boots. That’s just his competitive nature.
"I believe he was one of the top two or three up the mountain. So he loved it. Again, I said, "You don't need to go up the mountain if you don't want to.". And he told me he was already on the way to buy some hiking boots
Petr Čech made his professional hockey debut with Belfast Giants over the weekend! An incredible athlete👏🏑🥅
pic.twitter.com/BQs3M8SImh— PurelyFootball ℗ (@PurelyFootball) November 26, 2023
Interviewer: "How many times has Petr come back to the Giants on loan? Is it three or four?"
Adam Keefe: "I think it’s four times, but you’d probably know better than me. He was with us a few times last season and then again for over two weeks this season when one of our goalies left for the Great Britain National Team. He came in to make sure we were well covered," said Keefe.
Interviewer: "Do you think he’ll come back again? Is he still fit and ready to play at 41?"
Adam Keefe: "It’s not ideal for him to step in without having been on the ice much, but if anyone can do it, it’s Petr. He keeps himself in great shape and stays motivated. He’s definitely someone we consider part of the team, and we’re indebted to him for his help.
"I know some people think it’s a publicity stunt, but I can tell you he’s genuinely helped us. He’s more than capable of being a goalie in ice hockey, and I don’t think he gets enough credit for how good he actually is."
Interviewer: "It seems like he really enjoyed Belfast. Would you agree?"
Adam Keefe: "Absolutely. I think he enjoys coming back to Belfast because of his past success here. He won the UEFA Cup in the city and told me about it. The first time he was here, he didn’t get to see much of the city, but now he’s had more time to explore and enjoy the restaurants, pubs, and culture.
"I think what he enjoys most is being part of a team again, competing, and getting a taste of what his life could have been like if he had pursued hockey. That’s not to take away from his football accomplishments, which speak for themselves, but he loves hockey, and I think it’s been a special experience for him.
Interviewer: "For those who want to watch the Belfast Giants, how can they go about it? What’s the schedule like?"
Adam Keefe: "The first step would be to check the Belfast Giants fixtures at the SSE Arena. We usually play two games a week, either at home or away, typically on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
"It’s a great night out. The games are fast, physical, and exciting."
And it’s extremely talented professional athletes doing what they do on the ice," continued Adam. "I think that generally gets everybody hooked. But the off-ice products—you know, the entertainment off the ice—you're in the SSE Arena, which is a beautiful building. They do a great job entertaining the crowd, regardless of whether you know what’s going on on the ice.
"Once we get people in the building, they generally come back. And, of course, an evening or a day in Belfast is never a bad thing either. It’s a great night out for everybody, and we’re happy to play our part. The fans certainly do a great job supporting us here. The crowds have been fantastic, especially over the last two years, but they’ve always been great since I’ve been here.
"The crowd keeps growing and coming back, which is a huge help for me as a coach and for the organisation. It gives the players something to look forward to when they hit the ice. I think that must have been a great experience for Petr Čech, no matter what’s done in his football career or the massive games he’s played in. It’s a different feeling when you hit the ice in front of six or seven thousand people and get a standing ovation like he did.
"I’m sure that brought back some nice memories for him from his time on the football pitch, but it’s in a completely different environment."
Interviewer: "What kind of impact did he leave on you and the team?"
Adam Keefe "If there’s one thing we’d want to say to Petr, it’s thank you. He did a massive job for us, and he was a huge help to me personally. I learnt a lot from him, both as a person and an athlete. He came in as a bit of a mentor for myself and the team, so we owe him a great debt of gratitude. We also consider him a giant for life."
Presseye Ltd, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 22nd August 2024 : Photo by William Cherry/PresseyeBelfast Giants during Thursday morning practice ahead of the new season at the SSE Arena, Belfast. Photo by William Cherry/Presseye
