One old two new in for Bison

BASINGSTOKE,U.K-There finally looks to be light at the end of the tunnel for the Basingstoke Bison with the return of American stop stopper Kevin Reiter now looking to be days rather than weeks away.
 
Since his departure from the line-up in the Herd’s last game of 2008, without Basingstoke Bison have mustered just one point from an overtime loss in Belfast. His return will be a great plus to the team, but also will be the addition of two new players in forward Ivo Mocek and defenseman Corey LeClair.
Mocek is new to Britain and made his debut in the Bison’s 4-3 loss in Edinburgh, having arrived only 24 hours earlier in the country from the Czech Republic. There he had been playing for HC VOKD Poruba and last year the 6` 1″ 191 pounder played for HC Sareza Ostrava, where he has scored three times in 17 games.
“I have played in Canada before and felt I needed a change and was happy to come to Britain. I am looking to score goals and I am not afraid to dish out the hits,” Mocek said.
The other new face to the dressing room is someone who has been around the Elite League all season, having signed first for the Coventry Blaze and then moved to the Nottingham Panthers. His third team the Bison will see him complete the campaign.
LeClair scored in Basingstoke during his short spell with the Panthers and in 38 games in the Elite League this season for his two previous clubs has scored six times and collected 12 assists. He is already up an running with the Herd scoring in their 4-3 loss in Edinburgh against the Capitals.
This the 25-year-old American’s first season in Britain, having played last year in the East Coast Hockey League split between the Phoenix Roadrunners and Dayton Bombers, where he picked up six goals and 18 assists.
He will certainly add some more flair to the blue line and is already being earmarked to play on the powerplay unit as he has such a good shot.
“I am pleased to be here and hope I can help the team win things, being in a cup semi-final is exciting. I am sure we can do well, ” LeClair said.
The cup semi-final the new signing talks about is in the Challenge Cup, the first time the Herd have reached the final four of this competition in their history. Manchester Phoenix stand between them and a second final in two season’s following on from the Knock-Out Cup 12 months ago.
Contact the author at Graham.merry@prohockeynews.com