Belfast Giants strengthen blue line with Paul Swindlehurst signing

The Belfast Giants have moved to improve their defensive corps with the signing of British defenseman Paul Swindlehurst from the Manchester Storm.

Swindlehurst, 25, has played five years in the Elite League with the Dundee Stars, Nottingham Panthers and the Storm and moves to the SSE Arena off the back of helping Team GB to gold in Division 1A of the World Championships.

The English skater was part of a Manchester roster that won the Patton Conference last season and finished second in the league standings, dressing for all 56 of their regular season games, scoring two goals and adding seven points.

Swindlehurst has also been a mainstay on the GB roster for the past five years and was part of the teams that won back to back promotions in Belfast and Budapest over the last two seasons.

The d-man was part of a rookie call-up squad for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2014 and has also had a stint in Australia with the Sydney IceDogs.

“Everything Adam Keefe said were the right things for me. I wanted a change, new scenery and I wanted a challenge,” Swindlehurst told A View From The Bridge, the official podcast of the Belfast Giants.

“Adam Keefe wants to work with me and help my game. From speaking to other players, I know that Keefer helps young guys get better. I want to build my game, improve and become the best player I can be and through Adam Keefe and the Belfast Giants, I believe that is possible.”

Paul Swindlehurst factfile

Name: Paul Swindlehurst

Age: 25

Birthplace: Blackrod, England

Height: 193cm / 6’4”

Weight: 94kgs / 207lbs

Shoots: L

Former teams: Swindon Wildcats, Dundee Stars, Nottingham Panthers, Manchester Storm, Sydney IceDogs

Belfast Giants bring in netminder Tyler Beskorowany

THE Belfast Giants have announced the signing of Canadian goaltender Tyler Beskorowany for the 2018/19 Elite League season.

The 28-year old will vie for the starting jersey at the SSE Arena next season with veteran British backstop Stephen Murphy having agreed to join from the now defunct Edinburgh Capitals.

After the departure of netminder Jackson Whistle to rivals the Sheffield Steelers, head coach Adam Keefe has moved quickly to fill the vacancy behind the blueline with another veteran operator.

Beskorowany logged an .894 save percentage in 15 games for the Capitals last season, sporting an unsightly 4.06 goals against average albeit behind a league-worst defense, suggesting he’s better than the stats imply.

That’s further backed by the fact he is only three years removed from an excellent season in the DEL with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers where he recorded an impressive .920 save percentage with a 2.81 GAA.

The netminder is a former second round draft pick in the NHL having been taken at #59 in the 2008 Draft by Dallas, however he didn’t make it to the big leagues with the Stars.

Having bounced between the Stars’ AHL and ECHL affiliates for three seasons, posting strong numbers at both levels, Beskorowany spent time with the San Francisco Bulls and Orlando Solar Bears before heading to Europe.

In 67 games across two seasons for Düsseldorfer and Nürnberg in the DEL, the Canadian was one of the standout goalies with back-to-back seasons with a .920 save percentage, and was named DEL Goalie of the Year in 2015.

He made the move to Edinburgh midway through last season to aid the failing franchise’s efforts, and despite the below-average stats, his performances earned rave reviews and he quickly became a favourite at Murrayfield.

Having had experience in the EIHL already, bringing Beskorowany in to plug the gap appears a shrewd move from the Giants, who will hope he can bring his performances from Germany to Belfast this season.

Factfile

Name: Tyler Beskorowany

Age: 28

Hometown: Sudbury, ON, Canada

Height: 193cm / 6’4”

Catches: Left

Squad number: #34

Drafted: 2008 round 2 #59 overall by Dallas Stars

Former teams: Texas Stars, Idaho Steelheads, San Francisco Bulls, Orlando Solar Bears, St. John’s IceCaps, Düsseldorfer EG, Springfield Falcons, Norfolk Admirals, Nürnberg Ice Tigers, Edinburgh Capitals