Stevie Thornton has wasted no time in building his team for next season, which seems like a million miles away. This week he signed on twenty year old British defenseman Dave Phillips to a years contract. Phillips who has played for the last five years in Hull will step up to the Giants blue-line and add some size. Stevie Thornton has praised the kids play having played against him all season while in Basingstoke and he must like the kid if he’s made him his first signing.

The most interesting thing about the signing right now - as well as the added youth - is who will make way for him. As a British player it’s likely to be a Brit making way unless Thornton feels he has the resources to keep on an extra British star. Leigh Jamieson and Graeme Walton are two British defensemen but both had sold season and Jamieson played most of the year on the wing. I wouldn’t want to put money on it but if I had to hedge a bet I would say possibly Moran. It would allow Phillips to play on the blue-line and potentially keep Jamieson forward. Who knows what Thornton has in his plans - that’s why he is the coach afterall.

A very significent thing Thornton talked about was his wish to improve on last year and that probably meant a lot of new faces. It looks like the Giants are going into a major rebuild over the summer with lots of new faces and only the very best from last year may be wearing a Giants jersey come September.

One of the best things I heard about this signing was the leadership he already possesses as a 20-year old. He was already wearing the ‘A’ in Hull and as Thornton said, “You don’t see many 20 year olds in this league wearing an ‘A’ “

Category: Player Signings » » Dave Phillips |

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