Belfast Giants captain Blair Riley has left the club after three seasons to join an as yet unknown club.
The 33-year-old winger has reportedly informed Adam Keefe’s side he has opted to end his time in Northern Ireland and not return for a fourth season.
A statement on the Giants website read: “Belfast Giants can confirm that Blair Riley will leave the organisation, with the Captain opting out of his two year contract which runs until the end of the 2019/20 season.
“Riley informed the organisation that he has accepted an offer from another team and would not be returning to Belfast for a fourth season.
Riley helped deliver a league title to Belfast last season (PHOTO: William Cherry/Press Eye)
“Belfast Giants would like to thank Blair for his service to the organisation over three seasons – winning the Elite League in 2018/19 as well as the Challenge Cup in both 2017/18 and 2018/19.
Riley arrived in 2016 from AHL side Stockton Heat, playing alongside other EIHL alumni Patrick Killeen, Aaron Johnson and Yann Sauvé.
Previous coach Derrick Walser brought him to the UK to a club that gave him his biggest success as a player, with two Challenge Cups and a league title to his name.
The winger is the third player to announce he won’t be back on the Giants roster after retiring pair Colin Shields and Dustin Johner.
