There were two more positions to be filled and on Tuesday the Giants did just that. They brought back stalwart George Awada for a fifth season and new boy Malcolm Macmillan. It means the Giants have done the unthinkable and completed their entire roster for the coming season before the end of July. It means for the first time ever Giants fans can head off to the sunshine on their holidays knowing exactly what kinda team they are coming home too. The final signings also confirm that just six players who finished the season with the Giants last term will be returning this year, and that includes now third string goalie Adam Cree.

George Awada was a player I felt was a must to return. He has been the captain for the past three season, a go-to-player who gets points at important times and the kind of leadership that will keep the spirit of the Giants alive, especially with so many new faces. There is no doubt this is a changing of the guard, a new era of sorts, but there is enough of a core to make the transition smooth. George Awada should, in my opinion, carry on as team captain. It will be his forth year in that roll if he is selected and although he is yet to do what only Paul Kruse could do and captain the Giants to a playoff title, Awada still goes down as one of the best captains we have had.

Malcolm Macmillan is a player I know very little about other than he knows how to get into tripple digits in the penalty minutes count. He isn’t a huge man by enforcers standards but he doesn’t appear to back down from a fight if his fight card is anything to go by. He has been toiling in the minor leagues in North America for years now and with his size he wouldn’t have lasted this long if he could still produce the goods against the big men. Alongside Bobby Robbins the Giants will have more than one player willing to mix it up if the games turn nasty.

Macmillan is 26-years of age so carries youth on his side. His siging brings the total age of the Giants players to 481 years across the 18 man squad. That means an average age of 26.7 years.

I don’t know what the youngest ever Giants team is but I’m willing to bet this is right up there. I will look into it and report back. One thing is for certain — this team is much younger than last years and should carry more speed across the line-up and shouldn’t run out of steam come the nitty-gritty end of the season.

This is two very positive moves to complete a line-up that looks exciting. Unfortunately for the fans, they won’t see them in action for over a month!

Category: Player Signings » George Awada, Malcolm Macmillan |

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