BASINGSTOKE, UK- Bison coach Steve Moria is determined to keep a core of last season’s players as he builds for the new campaign.
The Canadian himself will once again be icing for the Herd and having finished just shy of a another 100 point season, on 95, it is no real surprise.
The experienced forward was second to Slovak sniper Ondrej Lauko in the goal scoring stakes for Basingstoke with 37.
He returns for the second year of a three year deal he signed this time last year.
The player-coach has wasted no time in making his first re-signing for the 2010/11 assault on the English Premier League crown, by securing the services of Sam Oakford for another two years.
The stay at home defenceman had an excellent season patrolling the Bison blue line and that did not go unnoticed by Moria, who handed him the coach’s Player of The Year award at the annual Bison awards night.
A solid player at the back beyond his years of only 19 and last season he also picked up 20 points.
He may have only scored once, but that was one to remember with the game tying goal in the penalty shoot-out win over eventual league champions Milton Keynes Lightning.
Oakford also starred as part of the gold winning Great Britain under-20 side in the World Championships.
“It is great to have Sam back and I am delighted he has signed a two year deal which I think that shows how much faith he has in the Bison organisation and the goals that we as a club are trying to set.
“He led the team’s plus minus and is a player I would never hesitate to have out on the ice for the final minute of the game when we were leading. He is as solid as they come, said player-coach Moria.
“I definitely had a good year and enjoyed a good year with the club and being at university in Southampton this is the perfect set-up for me.
“Last year we were a new team and it took us time to gel, but once we did we really showed our potential,” said Oakford.
The British defenceman admitted on a personal note winning a gold medal for GB was the high spot of the season.
“Having won four silver medals it was great to finally get a gold, but for the Bison the end of the regular season was really special and I think that is why when we lost 6-0 in the play-offs it was such a shame. I think we felt as a team we had a good chance in Coventry and for sure we will be looking to erase that memory next time around,” added Oakford.
Contact the author Graham.Merry@Prohockeynews.com
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