David Phillips On Defense, I like what I see...

It is hard to get a real grip on a player with as brief a look as I got of Davy Phillips last month. True, there were the web casts of the Giants games last winter where I was introduced to this young man holding his own in a in a 20 minute bench clearing brawl against arch rival Newcastle Vipers. Feel the love...Hey, they all shook hands at then end of the game! What caught my attention about Davey Phillips is simple he is a blueliner who stays at home. You don't need a Low Jack to find him on the ice.

This is what I like best about him though... just look at these photos on two days of camp there he is, he gets it, simply gets it. Nobody comes between you and the goalie! Pewee stuff but how many goals, games and series have been lost because some go getter got between a D-man and the goalie. It all comes down to the basics and it looks like Phillips has this one rock solid. Davy Phillips may have "player development" ahead of him in the next year in his transition from the Elites to the American Hockey League looking toward the National Hockey League but David has a good start.




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To quote Roddy Doyle, " It's a start and I believe in starts" , the American commitment for this young man is beginning . The rest of the good stuff should follow.

Belfast Giants top Elite league,but will they play without Thorton

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The Belfast Giants are firmly atop the Elite League,playing no nonsense hockey. In a tough gritty league in smaller intimate houses. These small arenas allow for a closer view of the action that we in North America can only look at and envy. However, it also allows for many fans having a great view of the game and an active and intelligent discussion of on ice incidents. Last weekend in the winning game the against the Viper's, Giant's player/coach Steve Thorton was given a 2+2 penalty for high sticking Newcstle's Andre Payette. Late last week while those of us in the States were worried about our 401Ks Giants boards were alive with discussion over the league imposing a 9 game suspension to Thorton for an upgraded Match Penalty for Slashing.

Oh dear, oh my, the good news is that the Giant's management have quickly mounted an appeal. This will allow Thorton to "ice" or play and coach until the appeal is granted or denied. So it will be status quo until the league powers at be stroke their long gray beards and issue their opinion. Steve Thorton himself gave his answer today, leading the Giants to victory against the Edinburgh Capitals 4:3, keep up that message Stevie, but watch that stick.

Giants stomp Vipers 7:2

Who were those masked men that blew the Newcastle Vipers out of the arena tonight? The game seemed civilized enough until with only minutes to go in the third period the frustrated Vipers started a bench clearing brawl that left the ice looking like a classic yard sale. Dance cards were so full that even the Belfast equipment manager was invited into the ceili. An invitation that thankfully he turned down. It was 20 minutes until the game was able to resume action, the boys behaved themselves and after the horn shook hands on the ice, nice.

This was my first time viewing the Giants free web cast, I'm hooked and have added all home games to my date book. Now that's target marketing! The next time they meet on Giants ice will be October 18th, 1300 CST. The will also play next weekend in Newcastle on Saturday and Sunday, smart money says Saturdays game will be a ring tailed tooter!