Coach Adam Keefe introduced the former Blues goalkeeper with 4:43 remaining on the clock, after the defending treble champions had already secured a 5-1 victory. Keefe did not disappoint the 6000-strong audience that began chanting “We Want Cech” by permitting the Champions League champion to enter the rink to raucous applause.

Cech is currently on loan at Belfast Giants from Oxford City Stars, an organization that competes in the National Ice Hockey League, which is situated one level below the Elite League. Prior to this, he served as a custodian for Guildford Phoenix and Chelmsford Chieftains, an organisation that functions similarly to a football goalkeeper.

Tomorrow at 4:00 pm UK time, Cech hopes to flourish in his new avatar for the Giants against the Nottingham Panthers.