Giants-History.com » Paul Sample

Sample Retires

Richard Blayney — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:14:11 +0000

With the recent arrival of his new baby Paul Sample, 27 has decided to call it a career in hockey and get out into the real world to earn a steady living. Good luck to him and thanks for the service in 03/04 and 08/09.

Giants face massive handicap for weekends games

Richard Blayney — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:30:28 +0000

The Giants will be without four key players this weekend as Paul Sample and Andrew Martin join Bobby Robins and Paul Deniset in the treatment room. The Giants hit the road to face Cardiff Devils tonight and then a top of the table clash with Sheffield tomorrow. It is going to take one heck of an effort just to get points out of the weekend never mind all four. I don’t really like the term ‘key’ players because at this level were benches are short enough as it is and imports are limited and ice time high then every player is key. Playing without four them them is a nightmare.

People are going to wonder what is wrong; Did we sign injury prone players, is it just severe bad luck or is it the fact that there are so many games with the short benches and players playing big minutes which takes its toll on the body? I tend to wonder if it is the latter because we aren’t the only team in the league having problems with injuries. As import levels go down, the ice time and responsibility on the imports signed goes up.

Andrew Martin is the biggest problem right now. He is one of the most talented players on the team but has spent more time in the proverbial press-box during games than on the ice. WIth the Giants carrying one more import player than allowed but getting away with it thanks to the fact they always have at least one man injured the question has been asked who will be cut, if and when, everyone becomes healthy.

Andrew Martin’s name is at the top of that list more and more. As much as his presence on the ice would be a loss, we’ve been playing without it most of the season anyway. That is all “ifs and buts” however as I am beginning to think we’ll never have a healthy team this season considering we’ve only two months to go. It might be worth the risk of bringing in yet another player on a short term contract while the team are so short because playing with so few players is only going to put more strain on those playing and run the risk of even more injuries.

The team sizes and import levels is something the league should look at in my book for fans to get their money’s worth. I know I wouldn’t be happy forking out money in these difficult financial times to see the Giants play with about 12 players and so out of energy by the half-way mark of the game.

Paul Sample is back to Belfast

Richard Blayney — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:02:19 +0000

I’m sorry for being extremely boring lately and only reporting the signings we are making – about 2 days after everyone has already heard about it from The Snow Plough anyway – but the beautiful early summer weather has been keeping me outdoors more often than in and when I am in it is all about the N.H.L. playoffs.

So yeah, you wont be suprised to hear that I am blogging to write about the latest signing the Giants have made. This one excites me though and I think it is one of the best Brit signings we have made in quite a while. Welcome back Paul Sample.

For those of you that started going to the Giants games in the last four years wont know this guy. Well you might know him from his times in Sheffield and Cardiff but not with the Giants. But the fact is, he has been here before and is finally returning. Paul Sample played with the Giants during their first Elite League season in 03-04. That year the ISL became the EIHL and teams were forced to bring on board born and trained British players. Paul Sample was one of the first British players to sign with the Giants and went on to have a terrific first season.

Sample played that year on a line with Paxton Schulte and Brad Kenny and put up some excellent numbers for his first year in the Elite League. He scored 39 points (17 goals and 22 assists) in 58 games and went on to pick up the coaches player of the year award. That year was a tough year for the Giants under rookie coach Rob Stewart as the team only managed 4th place in the league, but at the time Sample was one of the best Brits and although major changes needed to be made that year, I hoped he would stay with the Giants for years to come but with in a year of arriving he was away. I always hoped we would see him back each summer during the signing season but to no avail . . . Until now.

I always maintained he was one of the best Brits we ever had. He was replaced by Marc Levers who was eventually replaced by Paul Moran and now we have came full circle. Hopefully he is back for longer than a twelve month stay however!

And so the Giants continue to get their British signings in early. It was something Sheffield did last year and look what happened there. I think it is becoming a key to success and it’s great to see new coach Stevie Thornton jumping on board in signing some of the best British players in the Elite League. Once that task in complete I would imagine phase two would be surrounding them with some fine import talent to help bring some long overdue success back to Belfast.

Killers back!!

Richard Blayney — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 09:39:59 +0000

I was so happy to hear the news that Killer Kelman was back with the Giants for 7th straight season. Our all-time leader in games played was one of the first guys I would want back on my team after last season. He’s undoubtably the best offensive defenceman in the league right now and has been for the past three years, continually putting up big numbers from the blue-line. Along with Dutiaume and Ruff up forward and now Kelman in defence we’re certainly taking the early steps to building something special here in Belfast for 06-07.
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In other news, the Cardiff Devils have been active this week with the signings of Paul Sample who played for the Giants in 03-04 and last season with Sheffield as well as Dion Darling who played last season in Nottingham.

Sample Strikes back – Giants shutout AGAIN

Richard Blayney — Sun, 07 Nov 2004 23:54:04 +0000

A night after a great victory over London the Giants travelled to Sheffield to take on the reigning champions the Sheffield Steelers but they could not put together the scoring form they have had of late as they got shut out by the Steelers on their way to a 1-0 victory. Man of the match for the Giants Martin Kelmpa in goals faced 23 shots making 22 saves with a late third period goal by ex-Giant Paul Sample being the only difference between the two teams.

The Giants shouldn’t be too disheartened by the loss and the shout as their form of late in front of goal has been superb.

Sheffield Steelers 1-0 Belfast Giants

Steelers: Sample 57:22.
Giants: None.
(House of Steel, Sheffield).

Lines:
Johnson – C.Bowen – Awada
Huppe – Hand – Nasval
Morrison – Kelly – Levers

J.Bowen – Kelman
Angelstad – Gavalier
Walton