Giants land Bishop ahead of season
American has starred for a number of clubs
US forward Hunter Bishop has signed for the Belfast Giants.
The Alaska-born star had been playing for HC Innsbruck of the Austrian Hockey League.
But he spent two years in the NCAA with Ohio State where he picked up 58 points (29 goals, 29 assists) in 75 total games before being called up by the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL for the remainder of the 2009/10 season.
Bishop appeared in 34 games with the Bulldogs in 2010/11 scoring four goals and four assists for eight points. He also spent time with the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers during his rookie season adding five points (two goals, three assists) in nine games.
Hunter signed with the South Carolina Stingrays in 2012/13, after missing 2011/12 with injury, and finished with 24 goals and 25 assists, good for 49 points in 48 games. That season he received AHL call-ups to Lake Erie Monsters, Rochester Americans and Manchester Monarchs.
Bishop remained with Manchester during 2013/14 and posted six goals and nine assists in 57 games before making the move to Europe for the first of four seasons.
Olimpija Ljubljana was Bishop’s first EBEL side as he posted 20 goals and 16 assists in 48 games for the Slovenian side. Bishop spent the next three seasons with HC Innsbruck and grabbed 67 goals and 42 assists in 151 games - helping his side to the playoffs in both 2016/17 and 2017/18.
Hunter Bishop spoke with Davy McGimpsey, A View From The Bridge, on signing with the Giants:
“I may not know much about the Elite League though the more I asked around I heard great things about Belfast - both as a city and the organisation. I believe it is a great fit and I am happy to have got it done.”
“My game is based on speed and I am excited to be part of a winning organisation and do whatever it takes to help Belfast win."