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News
Phoenix agree to Farmers’ US trial
Recent Phoenix signing forward Robert Farmer will fly out the United States in June to chase his dream of playing and a possible future career in North America.
Nineteen-year old Farmer has asked Phoenix player/coach Tony Hand for permission to attend trials with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in Iowa, and the Scot agreed to the Nottingham-born starlet taking the chance most hockey hopefuls would jump at.
Hand commented, “I know as well as anyone what it means to get the chance to play in North America, I had my chance and now Robert has an opportunity too. We’ve told him to take the chance and we hope it goes well for him.”
“In the event that his trial does go well and he’s selected to join the Dubuque club, we’ve agreed to release him from his Phoenix contract. For Roberts’ part, he has committed to be a Phoenix player if he’s not selected. This is a great chance for him and we cannot deny him the dream that so many players have and very few realise.”
Farmer will fly to Iowa for the Select Camp of the Fighting Saints that runs from June 14th to the 16th and if selected, will remain for a further three days to attend the Main Camp. If selected after the Main Camp, he stands the chance to sign for the Saints for the 2010-11 season.
The Saints are returning to Dubuque after a nine-year absence and their new arena, the $7 million Mystique Ice Center is located on Schmitt Island in the middle of the Mississippi River. The club play in the United States Hockey League and have just appointed 40-year old Jim Montgomery as their new head coach after a four-year stint with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York State.
Farmer remarked on his opportunity, “I’m really excited about it. I’m really happy about signing for the Phoenix and when I spoke with Tony, he was very understanding. He agreed to me taking the trial and then possibly releasing me, and I was equally happy that if the Saints don’t pick me up, I’ll be a Manchester player.”
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