It was reported today that Giants legend Rob Stewart will persue his hockey career and do so with the Romford Raiders in the English Premier League.  Rob who played in Belfast from 2000-2003 before taking over as player coach in 03-04, returned again last season to fill in in defence for the majority of the season.  Rob reutrns to a team he spent many years early in the 90s…  Click below to read the full Romford website release…

ROMFORD RAIDERS, September 12, 2006 – Raiders’ Coach and Director of Hockey Brent Pope is pleased to announce the return of Rob Stewart to the Romford Raiders hockey club. Brent explains, ‘I am excited about the opportunity to bring Rob back to Romford where he played a significant and memorable part of his career for the club in the early 90’s. Rob’s return to the club after playing the last 12 seasons at the highest levels in the UK comes at an opportune time for me to assess the strengths and weaknesses of our team at this moment from a bench coach position.

‘Rob and I have spoken and I admire Rob’s decision to return to a club where he is held in such high regard. In many cases it is easier to play for a team where the level of expectation is not as high as Rob anticipates it might be this weekend.’

Rob comments, ‘I will be glad to get the skates on again in Romford and it will be great to be able to perform in front of the fantastic support I received in Romford during an earlier period in my career.’ Stewart added to Pope, ‘that this coming weekend’s games for the Raiders would not allow any time for Stewart to get settled in. To play Slough away on Saturday and then host the Elite League Panthers at home on Sunday is a stiff challenge, but one that I am willing to accept,’ explained Stewart.

Raider’s General Manager Allison Taylor admits her excitement about Stewart’s decision to come back and play for the club, ‘Rob is his own man and we have been speaking to him about the possibility of playing for the Raiders on an ad hoc basis for 4 weeks now. Rob has a business in Belfast and that is where his life is now, but he has chosen to return to Romford this weekend and it is testament to Rob’s professionalism and how much he loves Romford and the game. I can only express what a privilege an honour it will be to see Rob in a Raider’s shirt again, Taylor reveals.

‘I think Rob’s return to Romford comes at a good time for us and I know he would not return unless he wanted to, that is what makes it so special for all of us.’

Category: Former Giants » |

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