EPL ICE HOCKEY:

Tony Hand has beaten off stiff competition from a number of clubs to secure the signature of top prospect Robert Farmer for the 2010/11 season with the Manchester Phoenix.

Nineteen-year old, Nottingham born forward Robert Farmer began last season in the English Premier League with the Sheffield Scimitars, but crossed the road to the Sheffield Steelers in late November to try his hand in the Elite League. In 41 outings for the Steelers, Farmer bagged six goals and eleven assists as well as 74 penalty minutes, numbers that saw him finish in the top 100 point-scorers in the Elite League.

Standing six feet two inches tall and taking to scales to just beyond the 13-stone mark, Farmer will bring a big physical presence to the Phoenix ranks next season as Hand rebuilds his squad in preparation for an all-out assault on the EPL silverware.

Hand said: "“Robert is one of the this country's outstanding young prospects and I'’m delighted to have secured his signature. He brings size, power, aggression and an eye for goal to our roster and the fans will very quickly take him to their hearts.

"He made the most of his chance to play with the Steelers, but the Elite League move to return to eleven imports per roster would probably have meant a big reduction in ice time and that makes me doubly pleased that we’ve won the race to sign him up.”"

Farmer added: "“It’'s a great chance for me in signing with the Phoenix. They’'re a professional club and I’'m looking forward to the challenge they'’ll mount next season, and being a big part of it. I played against them last season and they were a very potent team and I’ll be looking to add to that.

"“I like to get forward and look to score goals and touch wood so far in my career, I'’ve done well in front of the net. But I like to contribute all over the ice, play a physical game and if that means mixing it up in the corners and getting my nose dirty, well that'’s all part of the game."

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