Jacobsen latest Phoenix signing

8:52am Friday 6th June 2008

Player coach Tony Hand's summer re-modelling of the Manchester Phoenix continues with the signing of centreman Grant Jacobsen, and the man from Manitoba can't wait to get here.

Jacobsen said: "I'm really looking forward to getting to Manchester. I've talked to guys who've played in the UK and they all said good things about the city and the club. It's an exciting opportunity for me, I'm really pleased to get the chance."

Born in Souris Manitoba, Grant calls nearby Neepawa his home town and he hasn't been afraid to travel to pursue his hockey career to date.

"I played my junior hockey mostly in Regina and then Kamloops before turning professional after a year in college back in Manitoba."

It was whilst with the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League in 2001 that Grant was drafted in the 9th round, 270th overall, by the St.Louis Blues, but it was the NHL lockout year in 2004 that proved the turning point for him.

"I spent a year studying Criminology and playing hockey in university during the lockout and it was after talking to guys about hockey that I got a number of calls to turn pro."

The lockout helped him make his mind up to turn professional, but it also cost him a chance to attend a rookie camp of the Calgary Flames.

His first two seasons in the pro minor leagues saw him ice with the Reading Royals, Columbus Inferno and Johnstown Chiefs in the East Coast Hockey League, before spending last season with the Texas Brahmas in the Central Hockey League.

On the move to Texas, he said: "It was a good move for me. The league was really competitive-better than I expected, there were no easy nights and I really enjoyed myself there."

Standing 6ft 3ins and tipping the scales at 215lbs, Grant could easily have followed his fathers' footsteps and joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but chose sport instead, taking his dads' work ethic onto the ice.

"I'm more of a set-up guy than a prolific goalscorer myself, preferring to work down low, in the corners and looking to make plays for other guys to finish. I like to think I'm pretty good in the face-off circle and I've always killed penalties.

"I work hard at my game and I'm looking forward to helping Manchester challenge for championships."

Phoenix head coach Tony Hand said: "Grant has good size, a solid work ethic and that will help the team by adding more strength in depth through the squad. The people I spoke to about him said he always gives his best and the consistency of his numbers would tend to bear that out."

Phoenix expect to make at least one further signing announcement next week as Hand added: "We've reached agreement with two players who also will be new to the club, so we'll release those names as soon as the contracts are returned early next week."

Olympic silver medal for Jason