Raine added to the Giants’ blueline

Belfast Giants have signed Kevin Raine for the 2017/18 Elite League season.

The 24-year-old defenseman joins the Giants from the ECHL’s Florida Everblades.

Raine made his professional debut in 2013 with the AHL’s Portland Pirates before being invited to the 2014 NHL rookie camp and training camp of Los Angeles Kings.

Raine’s solid play earned him a spot with the Kings organisation on the roster of their AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs. In his first professional season he won the Calder Cup with the Monarchs.

In 2015/16 Raine joined Ontario Reign before splitting last year with Charlotte Checkers and finally the Everblades.

Giants’ boss Adam keefe said: “Kevin is my type of player. He will compete every night for the Giants and he throws bone-crushing hits, so our opponents will have to keep their heads up when he’s on the ice in the SSE this season.

“He skates really well and is solid at both ends of the ice. I think the fans are going to love this guy.”