Bison capture two `Bees`

BASINGSTOKE,U.K- The Basingstoke Bison of the Elite League have made a double capture from the Bracknell Bees of the English Premier League after signing Shaun Thompson and Kurt Reynolds. The two former Great Britain junior internationals are now looking for senior honours and both are no strangers to Hampshire-based team as forward Thompson played in the Elite League for the Herd before having two and a half years away in Bracknell. Defenseman Reynolds was born in the town and started his hockey career with the under-10 age group team before moving to near neighbours Guildford Flames. Reynolds then spent four years in North America, before returning to the British game in June 2007.

Since leaving Basingstoke as a teenager, where Thompson become the youngest goal scorer in the top flight of the British game for over a decade, he has matured into one of the top forwards of the EPL. Last campaign for the Bees he returned 33 points from 39 games and returning to the Bison will see him reunited with his former player-coach Ryan Aldridge who is the current head coach of the Herd. “Shaun is a solid centreman and has the right attitude and has gained a lot of experience since he was last in a Bison shirt and I think the time is right for him to move back to the Elite League, ” Aldridge said. Last year Thompson played three games in the EIHL with the Nottingham Panthers lighting the red lamp once and the Bison will hope he can repeat that ratio this coming campaign. “I am very exciting about coming back to Basingstoke and I am working hard in the gym,” Thompson said “I know Ryan (Aldridge) will get the best out of me as a coach and I want to do well for Basingstoke and put myself in the shop window for a place in the senior Great Britain for the two trips to Poland this year, I have always enjoyed playing for my country and now want to do it again.” For Reynolds this will be his first full season in the EIHL and last season the offensive minded defenseman earned rare reviews from his season in Bracknell as well as his couple of games for Nottingham Panthers. This after returning from four years in North American, which started at AAA for the Soo Indians in Sault St Marie, Canada before moving to the Southern Ice Lightning in Nashville, USA. His last two seasons before returning across the pond he played for Hartford Junior Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League. Bison bossAldridge has earmarked the fifth defenseman spot for the 21-year-old, but he can also provide cover in the forward department if needed. “He is smart defenseman who knows what to do in a given situation. He is very much in the mould of Ben O’Connor who was here last season,” Aldridge said Reynolds has also recieved praise from his former Bees and now Bison team mate. “He is a great skater, has a superb work ethic and works hard every game,” Thompson said. “I feel I ready to step up to the Elite League, I have a lot to prove and I want to help the Bison win trophies,” Reynolds said “If that means I get picked for the GB then it would be an added bonus.” Contact the author at Graham.merry@prohockeynews.com   P hoto: Shaun Thompson and Kurt Reynolds in action for former club Bracknell Bees