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Fleury impresses on winning Giants debut

National Hockey League star Theo Fleury refused to take all the plaudits after making a dream debut for Belfast Giants.

The Olympic gold medallist scored a hat-trick in the 11-2 Elite League win over Edinburgh Capitals at a packed Odyssey Arena.

The 37-year-old Canadian, the biggest signing in the National Hockey League's history, needed just 68 seconds to grab his first goal - on his first shift – before adding a second inside four minutes.

Fleury, who made 1,084 regular-season appearances in the NHL, registering 1,088 points in a 16-campaign career, also claimed four assists - and was even involved in a fight with Capitals' Fredrick Oduya.

But the Man of the Match said: "I have come over here to play hockey and win. If people want to tangle, I will tangle with them. The older I get the more I feel I want to be the complete hockey player. I got a couple of goals but I was more excited about the other guys scoring."

Shawn Skiehar grabbed his first two goals for the club, Belfast-born Mark Morrison claimed his second of the season, while Fleury had a hand in Steve O'Brien's maiden marker for the Northern Ireland outfit.

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