BASINGSTOKE, UK: The Bison have beefed up their blue line with the re-signing of top British defensemen Joe Baird and Declan Balmer.
Both played a big part for the Herd last season and with Kurt Reynolds already signed and an import defenseman to be added the core of the back division already looks very strong.
Bison player/coach will almost certainly go with at least a five man unit and has not ruled out adding a sixth D man if possible.
The two latest re-signing are both physical hard hitting players in Baird you have a player with bags of experience, while Balmer is still a teenager and is only going to get better.
Southampton-born Baird was part of the Basingstoke junior programme and made his senior bow at only 14 in season 1994/95 when the Hampshire team played in the Heineken Premier League.
He went onto play in the Superleague for the Bison and also the club’s first three seasons in the British National League.
He was more of a utility player in those days playing as a forward and scored in both the Benson and Hedges Plate finals.
The 34-year-old blue liner then had spells in the EPL with Wightlink Raiders, Bracknell Bees and Swindon Wildcats.
During this time, he guested for the Herd and played in an Elite League Knockout Cup helping the Bison to the final of the competition.
He returned to the Herd in their double-winning season of 2013/14 and has now played over 500 EPL games as well as nearly 250 league games for the Bison.
Balmer made his debut for the Bison last season having moved from Peterborough Phantoms and the Hill-born defenseman formed a very good partnership with last season’s import defenseman Miroslav Vantroba.
He was a member of the Great Britain’s under-20s winning team in Estonia and due to his size many fans forget he is still a teenager.
He scored once for the Herd last season in an English Challenge Cup tie in Chelmsford and he is player who plays a real rugged game the same as Baird.
“I like physical defenseman and both Joe (Baird) and Declan (Balmer) certainly fit the bill and with Kurt (Reynolds) already signed we have a very good core back.
“Joe brings a lot of leadership to the team and Declan was very good for us last season,” said Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard.
Contact the author Graham.Merry@Prohockeynews
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