Parting Schotts

Ex-Dutchmen defenseman Matheson signs with Belfast Giants

Former Union College standout defenseman Brock Matheson is headed to Northern Ireland to play hockey.

Matheson signed a contract to play for the Belfast Giants, who are the defending Elite Ice Hockey League champions.

Matheson, who was the captain of the 2010-11 ECAC Hockey League regular season-champion Dutchmen, played last season with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder. He had two assists and 27 penalty minutes in 45 games. He had a brief stint with the AHL's Rochester Americans.

The Giants are coached by Doug Christensen, who played for the Dutchmen from 1998-2002.

"Brock does not have numbers that are going to jump off the page, but he plays a role that we need," Christensen said in a statement. "We have excellent forwards who are going to be aggressive and attack our opponent, and what I wanted was a defenseman that would relish the challenge of shutting down the other top forwards in the league, guys like David Ling, Jeff Legue, Shea Guthrie, etc.

"Brock loves one-on one-battles. He blocks shots, hits and competes every night. His defensive style of play would be similar to former Giants Nick Kuiper and Tim Cook, who were both valuable pieces on very successful teams here in Belfast. I expect Matheson to play a very similar game to Kuiper."

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