Todd Kelman
| Todd Kelman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
January 5, 1975 Calgary, AB, CAN | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Played for |
Bracknell Bees Belfast Giants | ||
| NHL Draft |
141st overall, 1993 St. Louis Blues | ||
| Playing career | 1997–2008 | ||
Todd Kelman (born January 5, 1975) is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who is currently the General Manager of the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League, having been an original member of the first Giants squad that played in the old Ice Hockey Superleague in the 2000–01 season. He won the Superleague title twice, once with the Giants in 2001–02 (a mere one season after the team was founded) and previously with the Bracknell Bees two seasons earlier in 1999–00. He also won the Superleague Playoff Championship and the Elite League with the Giants in 2002–03 and 2005–06 respectively. During his tenure at the Giants, 'The Killer' became a huge favourite amongst the fans for his offensive style of play that created goals for the Giants as well as his strong defensive style and solid penalty killing. In seven seasons he played 366 games, more than any other player in Giants history. He is also the leading points scoring defenceman in Giants history with 67 goals and 122 assists for 189 points. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Kelman retired as a player and began his new role as General Manager. He did however play 14 more games for the Giants during the 2007–08 season to cover for the injured Roman Gavalier.
In three seasons as a General Manager, Kelman and the Giants have won the Challenge Cup and British Knock Out Cup (both in the 2008/09 season) and most recently the Playoff Championship in 2010. His two seasons working with Steve Thornton proved to be the most successful on the ice in the ten years of the Giants existence.
Recently, Kelman secured an exhibition game for the named "Belfast Giants Select" (featuring the best players from the Elite League), against the world famous NHL side, the Boston Bruins. The game took place at the Odyssey Arena on October 2, 2010, with the Bruins securing a 5-1 victory.
Kelman was drafted 141st overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, but never played a game having spent his career at college for Bowling Green State University before joining the Bees in 1997.