Posted on Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Giants star forwards Paul Deniset and Bobby Robins will be moving on from Belfast next season; both players have signed contracts with the Rødovre Mighty Bulls situated in Rødovre, a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Deniset is no stranger to European hockey, having played two seasons in the German Bundesliga before coming to Belfast. A 2008-2009 Elite League First Team All-Star, Deniset played 54 games with the Giants where he scored 40 goals and posted 48 assists, good enough to finish sixth in points in the league, especially impressive considering he missed 17 games due to injury. His performance did not go unnoticed this season, winning praise throughout the league and culminating in three Man of Ice Awards nominations, including one for the prestigious Player of the Year. Deniset was also honoured as the Giants MVP, Forward of the Year, and the Player’s Player, voted on by his teammates.
Robins came to Belfast after two successful years in the ECHL and AHL and immediately made an impact. His large size and physical play helped him excel in the Elite League; playing alongside Deniset and Andrew Martin he tallied 29 goals and 35 assists in 59 games. A shoulder injury sidelined him for a brief period, during which time he missed the All-Star game, however he returned to form and was a big part of the Giants success in winning both the Challenge and Knock-Out Cups.
General Manager Todd Kelman is not surprised that Deniset and Robins are moving on; “We definitely got both of these players at below market value last season, and they showed that they were two of the best players in the league for us. They both deserve to take the step to the next level and we just could not compete with the offers they were getting from teams in Denmark. When you have success, your best players will all get offers from other teams and other leagues. We just need to recruit well and find the next crop of star players to replace Paul and Bobby.Believe me, this is no easy task, but they came to Belfast with the intention of using it as a stepping stone to bigger things, which they have done. I wish them all the best for next season and thank them for being a huge part of our success this past year.”
© 2008 Belfast Giants Limited, unless otherwise stated. Imagery © Michael Cooper Photography.
