The signings are coming thick and fast now by Steve Thornton with Canadian Pat Bateman being the latest to join up. He signs on as a player and also a student with the University of Ulster through the Giants Scholarship Programme. The 26-year old spent last season in the ECHL with Gwinnett Gladiators and is a product of the NCAA system with Michigan University.

The core of the team is certainly looking strong with this signing and his young age certainly bodes well for a pretty youthful squad unlike some previous years. Steve Thornton has compared him to Bobby Robins from last season and whether he is a direct replacement for Robins remains to be seen though their has been rumors of Robins heading to mainland Europe. If Bateman could put up the strong numbers he did in the ECHL then he should be a star in the Elite League. This University of Ulster set up certainly is a great move by the Giants and is pulling in players they might otherwise have missed out on.

Pat Bateman
Forward
Born May 20 1982  -- Calgary, ALTA
Height 6.01 -- Weight 195 -- Shoots L

                                           -Regular Season-  --- Playoffs ---
Season   Team                        Lge   GP  G  A Pts PIM  GP  G  A Pts PIM
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2002-03  Crowsnest Pass Timberwolv   AJHL  34 14 31  45 145
2003-04  Northern Michigan Univers   NCAA  36  7  7  14  66
2004-05  Northern Michigan Univers   NCAA  35 12 17  29  87
2005-06  Northern Michigan Univers   NCAA  39 10 19  29  87
2006-07  Northern Michigan Univers   NCAA  41  7  8  15  89
2006-07  Milwaukee Admirals          AHL    3  0  0   0   2  -- -- --  --  --
2007-08  Stockton Thunder            ECHL  40  5  6  11  21  -- -- --  --  --
2008-09  Gwinnett Gladiators         ECHL  72 24 28  52 124   5  2  1   3  10
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On the subject: Pat Bateman, Steve Thornton | ALL SUBJECTS |

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