BASINGSTOKE, U.K – More offensive firepower has been added to the Basingstoke Bison as they gear up for this season’s Elite League campaign with the signing of Canadian Brent Hughes and British-born Ross Bowers. Both players are new to the Herd and also to the league, but are excited about the up and coming season. Toronto native Hughes is the third Basingstoke summer recruit this season to have links with CHL side Amarillo Gorillas and has played with previous signing’s defenseman Trevor Read and Austin Sutter. He is also a friend of Bison’s top scorer last season Greg Chambers. The 26-year-old last year played in the IHL with the Port Huron Icehawks scoring the team’s first hat-trick of the season in an 8-2 win over the Flint Generals. This on his way to a goals tally for 10 for the season in points return of 29 from 71 games. Also on the team was former Bison top D-man Mark DeSantis. The previous season he played his part in helping the Colorado Eagles to the CHL crown scoring four times in the past season high of 10 points in 23 games. This after lighting the lamp five times in the regular season at his first pro club away from Texas The 26-year-old’s rookie year had been with the Austin Ice Bats making his debut in the play-offs, after impressing with the Georgetown Raiders in the OPIJL racking up 77 points, 35 of which were goals in just 45 games. The feisty forward scored in the post season for Austin and then return the following campaign bagging a career high 23 goals. The next year now at Amarillo he hit a career high points tally of 45 – one better than with the Ice Bats. “I am definitely excited about coming to the Bison as it has been one of my goals to play in Europe. I have heard only good things about Basingstoke from Mark DeSantis and Greg Chambers,” Hughes said. “This is the perfect fit for me and my family and I am counting the days to the start of the season, I think the bigger ice surfaces in Britain will benefit me as I like to keep moving and use my speed to carry the puck and make plays, I love to finish my checks an get in guys faces and I don’t hold back from anyone.” The high point of Hughes career so far was winning the CHL crown with Colorado Eagles, the Bison’s latest signing added “That taught me a lot about what it takes to win and all the sacrifices you need to make and I hope to bring that with me to the Bison,” Hughes said. Bison head coach Ryan Aldridge believes Hughes who will play him on one of the top two lines at the club and feels he could be one of the signing’s of the summer so far. “I think Brent is a real diamond in the rough and is someone who just needs the chance to prove himself, I think being at the Bison is that opportunity,” Aldridge said. The Bison’s latest British addition is Bowers from the Milton Keynes Lightning of the English Premier League. He will now step up in the Elite League and having been his side’s second highest home grown goal scorer for the past two years. Bowers born in Luton UK won four EPL play-off finals with MK in his first four years with the senior team having come through the club’s junior programme. He even scored in their last success which was over Bracknell Bees in 2006. Last season, the player who turns 23 at the end of July scored 18 times just behind his career best of 22 in the previous year. “I played against Ross two years ago when I was in Bracknell and he was a good player then, I have been told that last year he may not have got as many points, but was a much better player,” Aldridge said. The Aldridge will look to slot him in on the Bison’s third line. “I am going to play him on a line with Tommo (Shaun Thompson) and a new tough guy, so this will mean they will not get intimidated, I am sure Ross will do well for the Bison I think this is the right time in his career to move up, ” Aldridge said. Bowers is also relishing the challenge of Elite league hockey. “Having always played at Milton Keynes since I was 13 I am looking forward to the challenge of playing for a new club, last season was not the best year for me as I played injured and that did not help my confidence,” Bowers said “I ended the season playing well and now will look to bring that form to Basingstoke.” Contact the author at Graham.merry@prohockeynews.com
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