Courtesy of www.prohockeynews.comWith the 44th pick overall in the 2010 CHL Import Draft, the Ottawa 67’s have selected Robert Farmer of the Sheffield Steelers in the EIHL. Farmer is described as big power forward with a great attitude.
Earlier this year, Farmer was signed by the Manchester Phoenix of the EPL. With permission from coach Tony Hand, Farmer traveled to Iowa in the United States to tryout for the Dubuque Fighting Saints, a Tier 1 junior hockey team in the United States Hockey League.
While Farmer did not make the team, Fighting Saints Head Coach, Jim Montgomery, had nothing but good words to say about him. Montgomery told reporters, “Robert was very good at our camp and progressively got better throughout the week. He had a goal and two assists in four intra squad games. He is an outstanding young man who is a team first player with an infectious attitude. He did not make our team as we can only have a couple of imports but he did impress some NHL scouts that asked me about him.”
In comes the Ottawa 67’s. Many people might wonder, how in the world did the 67’s think of drafting a player out of the UK has there have been very few in the past? It was noted that former Ottawa 67’s d-man (1997-2002 season), Jon Zion, told GM Brian Kilrea to take a look at one of his teammates. This teammate happened to be Robert Farmer of the Sheffield Steelers where Zion had spent a few years playing.
Kilrea saw him during an on-ice workout and was impressed enough with his skating to draft him with their first, and ultimately only, selection in the recent CHL Import Draft.
Here is some information I was able to gather about Farmer’s game a big thanks to the crew at http://fmjblog.blogspot.com/ for some very valuable information…
Born: 21/03/1991
Birthplace: Nottingham, England
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 195lbs
Shoots: L
Position: LW
Previous Clubs: Sheffield Scimitars (EPL), Sheffield Steelers (EIHL)
