Their position at the top of the league is not completely secure however, they may hold an equal games played lead over second and third placed Nottingham and Cardiff respectively, but Coventry in forth sit just three points back with four games in hand and even Newcastle down in fifth are just four points back with three in hand. You can even go as far as seventh to find a team that can still overtake the Giants if they were to play their next six games before the Giants iced again to level the Giants in games played. That team is Edinburgh though their consistency in the early going suggests they won’t make up the ground, especially after tonight’s defeat. If you haven’t seen me mention reigning champs, Sheffield, that would be because they are languishing down in sixth place with just eight points from twelve games. A crisis in Sheffield isn’t far away and last night Matsos threatened changes.

Belfast Giants 4-0 Edinburgh Capitals

Giants: Walsh (pp) 3:13, Walsh 3:13, Peacock 53:40, Szwez 56:53.
Capitals: None.
(Dundonald Ice Bowl, Belfast)

Giants: Craze, Johnson, Jacobsen, Walsh, Phillips, Cook, Walton, Szwez, Bateman, Shields, Morrison, McMorrow, Benedict, Peacock, Faubert, Murphy. Scratched: Awada (injured), Thornton (injured).

The 26-year old defenseman is the first import signing by Steve Thornton this off season. Here is what the G-Org had to say about it. . . .

A joint partnership with the University of Ulster and the Belfast Giants has made the signing of Harvard Graduate and former NHL prospect Tom Walsh a reality for the 2009/10 ice hockey season. Walsh comes to Belfast after a year in the Finish Elite League, one of the top leagueís in Europe where he played for HIFK Helsinki. The former NHL Draft pick of the San Jose Sharks played for their top Affiliate team the Worcester Sharks two seasons ago, leading all defencemen on the Sharks in scoring with 36 points in 76 games.
– BelfastGiants.com, 30 April ’09

Walsh is a gruduate of Harvord University were he played Ivy League hockey prior to being drafted by the Sharks in the 5th round in 2002. He now joins one prestigious University for another thanks to the Giants link up with the UUJ for players to come here and play hockey while attaining their masters on the side. It has to be said the idea is a great one. It attracts players to these shores that otherwise would never have came. The chance for the player to further their education while getting paid and playing their sport at a good level is certainly appealing. Hopefully this isn’t the last move of this kind.

Tom Walsh
Defense
Born Apr 22 1983  -- Arlington, MA
Height 6.00 -- Weight 200 -- Shoots L

Selected by San Jose Sharks round 5 #163 overall 2002 NHL Entry Draft

                                            -Regular Season-  --- Playoffs ---
Season   Team                        Lge    GP  G  A Pts PIM  GP  G  A Pts PIM
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2002-03  Harvard University          NCAA   32  1  6   7  30
2003-04  Harvard University          NCAA   24  1  4   5  24
2004-05  Harvard University          NCAA   34  3  9  12  16
2005-06  Harvard University          NCAA   35  4 12  16  28
2006-07  Worcester Sharks            AHL    29  1  8   9   8   6  2  2   4   0
2006-07  Fresno Falcons              ECHL   43  2  7   9  26
2007-08  Worcester Sharks            AHL    76  6 30  36  28
2008-09  HIFK Helsinki               FNL    30  0  4   4  18
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