Hard Man Mel -Hits ProKick

Ice hockey star Mel ‘The Mangler’ Angelstad dropped into the ProKick Gym in Belfast this week to sharpen up the fighting skills that have made him one of the most feared players in the sport.
Angelstad has a reputation as a hard-man enforcer. He has collected over 4,000 penalty minutes in his career in the US and Canada, several times the usual amount. He has been drafted into the Belfast Giants team this season to toughen up their attack and his punching skills impressed ProKick chief coach Billy Murray.
“I was very impressed with Mel, he had a couple of conventional boxing bouts in North America and that was evident when we were working on the pads,” said Murray.
“He may have a reputation as being a bad boy on the ice, but face to face he is a gentleman. I’d be happy to have him back at the gym any time.”
Angelstad made his home debut for the Giants last weekend in their Odyssey defeat against the Basingstoke Bisons. It didn’t take the Canadian long to make his presence felt, squaring up to Bison Jeff Eswasko early in the match. Little became of that encounter, but The Mangler is certain his time training with Murray and world champion Gary Hamilton will help him as the season progresses.
”It’s been a while and I may be a bit rusty, but the training I did last week is just what I needed to prep myself for a dust up in a big match. And it went so well I’m thinking about making it part of my weekly training regime.”
Belfast Giants opponents – you have been warned.

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