BELFAST,U.K- The Elite League Belfast Giants Coach Steve Thornton has signed the Giants’ third and fourth imports, Bobby Robins and Andrew Martin who will make the journey across the pond to start their European careers in Belfast.
Robins, a 6 foot 1, 220lb forward from Wisconsin, will bring the Giants not only an element of toughness, but the ability to put up numbers. Robins spent four seasons (2002-2006) at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, playing in over 100 games and posting 69 points over the seasons.
Robins final season in Lowell saw him top the scoring points for the team, as well as being called up to the AHL, icing in 16 games with the Binghamton Senators. Robins impressed and signed for the Senators the following season, playing in 80 games, scoring seven goals adding eight assists and totalling 110 penalty minutes.
Last season saw Robins join the Elmira Jackals in the ECHL. Robins played 76 games with the Jackals, but was also called up to the AHL, four times, to play with four different teams- Binghamton (only in preseason), the
courtesy of the Idaho Steelheads and Binghamton Senators
“I can’t wait to get there now and for the season to start, I have heard great things about the Belfast Giants and the fans you have there and this was a big influence in my decision to sign,” Robins said. “I have been speaking to Steve for quite a while now and despite interest from some AHL teams, I really believe Belfast was the right choice for me.”
Martin, a native of Brampton, Ontario, was a former teammate of Robins at Lowell over the same four seasons that Robins spent at the NCAA team. Martin also played over 100 games with the University and racked up 100 points. Martin then went onto play for the Toledo Storm in the ECHL in 2006-07, playing 35 games, and scoring 12 goals and assisting on 22 more. Last season, Martin played for both the Cincinnati Cyclones and Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL, putting up 40 points in 65 games for the clubs.
“I think my game is suited to the big European rinks, speed is probably my best asset so I think that the big surface will be a bonus for me,” Martin said “I have spoken to Bobby and we both can’t wait to get over there now signing in Belfast felt like the right option for me at this stage in my career as I have had the chance to talk to quite a few people about the team and the city and it sounds like playing in Belfast is pretty tough to match elsewhere.”
Speaking about the latest Giants to sign General Manager Todd Kelman gave a look into the future of both players.
“These two players are the type of people we expect to take the Giants to the next level on and off the ice, they both are captain material and have worn letters before and both have been described as animals in the gym and most importantly they both are very good hockey players that play both ends of the ice and are coming here with aspirations and expectations of winning,” Kelman said
I think that Bobby and Andrew have potential to become fan favourites very quickly for different reasons, Steve (Thornton) and I speak everyday about players and we feel that the team is really starting to take shape now, with the players we have and the other guys we are talking to, Steve is going to have a hard time deciding who will wear the letters next season.
With two months left in the off-season, the Giants have six slots to fill, all of which will be European players.
Contact the author at Aaron.stewart@prohockeynews.com
Photo: Belfast Giant’s duo Andrew Martin and Bobby Robins
courtesy of the Idaho Steelheads and Binghamton Senators
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