WATCH: Belfast Giants fans applaud in their thousands in honour of superfan Blake McCaughey
A crowd of more than 7,000 people stood to their feet on Saturday evening in Belfast’s SSE Arena in a poignant tribute to Tandragee teenager Blake McCaughey.
Blake, who passed away on Saturday, January 17, was a devoted superfan of the Belfast Giants ice hockey team and regularly attended their games with his family.
The 18-year-old was not only a familiar figure at the SSE Arena but he also got to know the players and team staff personally over the years.
Blake’s love for the team even led him to present Prince Harry with his own personalised Giants’ shirt in 2023 after the teenager received an Inspirational Young Person title at the national 2023 WellChild Awards in London.
As a mark of respect and fondness for Blake, who lived with complex medical conditions, a number of representatives of the team attended his funeral on Friday, where his coffin was draped with his Giants’ shirt.
Those gathered for the service heard Blake’s mum Christine share how the Giants had given the family precious memories.
“Thank you for giving us something we all enjoyed. So boys, when you walk past Blake’s seat every game going forward before going on to that ice to fight for points and score goals, give Blake’s seat a wee fist pump and get on there and do him proud,” she said.
In a fitting tribute, Blake’s beloved team – along with more than 7,300 fans – remembered and celebrated his life before the home game on Saturday evening against Dundee Stars.
The crowd was invited to stand by the arena host, who said: “The Belfast Giants were a big part of Blake’s life and it’s fair to say, he was an even bigger part of ours.
"Blake was an incredibly special young man whose infectious personality and charm lit up every room he entered. Blake’s memory and legacy will live on through friends, the team army and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
A video celebrating Blake’s life was played, after which people throughout the entire arena rose to their feet and took part in a one-minute applause in his honour.
The game ended just as he would have wished, with the Giants staying two points clear at the top of the Elite League with a 3-1 win.