Great Britain prospect Cameron Pound returns for second season with Belfast Giants

Pound, 25, took his first steps into the professional sphere with the Giants last season, leaving behind his college career with Saint Mary’s University in Canada to move to the Elite League.

And he acquitted himself well following the switch, the former Great Britain Under-20s international posting three goals and nine points in 38 games and playing to a +12 rating as he adjusted to life in the big leagues well.

Now the Solihull native will look to take his game to the next level after signing a one-year extension at the SSE Arena, with head coach Adam Keefe clearly impressed by his potential to bring him back for another year.

Pound, the son of former Great Britain international Ian, started his career in the Midlands system and would play 12 games for the Coventry Blaze’s Under-16s aged just 13 before moving to Canada to further his career.

After seven seasons in the junior system, which saw him capped internationally at both Under-18 and Under-20 level, Pound would opt to go down the collegiate route by joining Saint Mary’s in 2020, only for Covid to wipe out his first year with the Huskies.

Over the next two seasons he would make 55 appearances for Saint Mary’s, leading them to the Play-Offs in both years as he scored one goal and nine points, and he iced in eight games for the Huskies last season before going pro in November.

Pound would make his debut at the Glasgow Clan at the end of that month and would grab his first professional goal in a 5-2 loss to the Manchester Storm in February, while he would show his versatility by filling in at forward on multiple occasions for the injury-hit Giants down the stretch.

But he will hope to be deployed on defence on a more regular basis as he looks to lock down a permanent spot on the Giants’ blue-line while also hoping to catch the eye of Great Britain coach Pete Russell, too.

For Belfast, they also get another strong option to add to their British core, which also consists of returning centre Scott Conway and netminder Jackson Whistle, with forward Ciaran Long and Great Britain internationals Sean Norris and David Phillips yet to be re-signed from last season’s roster.