Belfast’s Bobby becomes a Bruin
A NHL dream signing is official as Bobby Robins, former Giants’ enforcer under Coach Steve Thornton, signed a two-way contract linking Robins with both the Province and Boston Bruins for the next two seasons.
Giants’ defenseman David Philips remembers Robins well when he spent a season sharing living accommodation with him: “I hope he does well with the Bruins’ organisation,” stated Philips. While others in the media commented on how Robins kept to his dream of icing in the NHL. It now looks like that hope will bear fruit.
Fans will remember well it was Robins who backed out of his agreement with the LBM Belfast Giants for a second season at the last minute despite signing a contract. Robins’ agent later explained that, despite agreeing to terms with the Giants, he had received an offer he could not refuse in Austria.
It is that time of the season again and following that Robins’ incident Giants’ GM Todd Kelman stated back then: “We have been burnt by agents before, but not when the process had gotten this far, and not by a player that knows both Steve and I so well.
“I guess that is what is the most upsetting,” said coach Steve Thornton at the time. “Bobby wanted time to look around and we waited until he was ready to sign, until his mind was ’100% made up’ according to him. We signed him, booked the flights, ordered his sticks and were looking forward to getting him here to help the team.”
The unfortunate thing was Robins offer came after he had agreed with us and the Austrian League, which we can’t compete financially with. Austria hosts one of the best levels of hockey in Europe and this was a great opportunity for Bobby as a player, which you cannot stand in the way of such an opportunity.
The same holds true today when Paul Adey is recruiting key players. For example, the first and second division teams in the German Leagues both have more disposable salary budgets to offer proposed candidates that the Giants.
Similarly the Italian league, together some pundits confirming both the French and Dutch top teams are also well endowed with cash. So when Paul is looking to recruit his first line specialists he has to use all the tools in his coaching kit bag available to him.
Adey has an enviable track record, and captured two major trophies whilst coaching in Europe over the last few campaigns. Thus, he has that record as an additional persuasive fact to back up just why potential players should sign with the Giants.
As does the potential offer of an Ulster University MBA programme for sure-fire players who want to enhance their curriculum vitae and as well qualify as significant hockey players and students alike.
Players do not want to just play hockey they want to be winners! They want to lift trophies, win championships and gain awards. The Giants, over their ten-year life span have achieved all of those accolades under the guidance of GM Todd Kelman. He has worked closely with the various talented, top coaches that he has managed to secure for the team.
The only other person was that of Tom Blatchford who went on to the ”Big Show” and become Toronto Maple Leafs Assistant Equipment Manager. Todd and Tom roomed together in his and Tom’s early days as a Giant. So Robin’s is the only person that has signed to ice with a NHL outfit to date.
Looking back to the Robin’s era was a time when Evan Cheverie played for the Giants they managed a bumper crop of goals from the Shields and Cheverie partnership. Lets hope it works again.
