GLASGOW, UK – Newly installed Player-Head Coach Bruce Richardson has wasted no time in making his first signings to the expansion Braehead Clan club with the acquisition of 102 point EPL forward Adam Walker alongside GB U20 internationals Sam Bullas and Matt Haywood.
The Braehead Clan have moved quickly to tie up British talent and in doing so have stemmed the tide of young talent heading to the EPL next season with three excellent young British prospects of their own.
Adam Walker at just 23 is already heading into his 8th full professional season having made his debut for the BNL Fife Flyers at just 13. Walker is in scintillating form bagging 49 goals and 102 points this past term in the English Premier League in a break out year. Walker shared a line with fellow Scot and all time British points scoring record holder Tony Hand and question marks remain over whether Walker can find the goal scoring touch without the 95 assist man at his side.
Walker is not new to the Elite League however, spending three seasons with Manchester Phoenix in the Elite League with a best of 29 points as a 21 year old and this points to good things for Walker on the 12-import Braehead team. Walker is also moving closer to home for the first time in a career that has taken in Guildford Flames, Swindon Wildcats and Manchester Phoenix the Kirkcaldy native will be performing in his home region for the first time since 2004.
Also making his way to the Braehead Arena is forward Sam Bullas, a 19 year old Nottingham native who spent this past season with Swindon Wildcats in the EPL, earning himself a place on the GB Under 20s team that performed in the World Championships D2 this past season. The promising forward has come through the Nottingham junior system, and whilst this will be his first season full time in the Elite League he is no stranger to Elite ice, having spent 5 games with his hometown Nottingham Panthers as part of a 2-way contract last season. In previous seasons Bullas has split time between Nottingham Panthers and Nottingham Lions of the ENL, with an Elite League best of 2 points in 26 games as a 16 year old.
Bullas comes off a solid season with Swindon putting up 25 points in 52 games, and is well known to Coach Bruce Richardson having shared the dressing room at the Trent FM Arena and is sure to be able to develop his game on the new Elite club.
Rounding off his new trio, Richardson has also moved to capture Sheffield Scimitars’ youngster Matt Haywood, who comes off a 66 point year with the IceSheffield based side.
Haywood, undoubtedly one of the hottest prospects in British hockey, played alongside Bullas on the Great Britain U20 World Championship side, notching 3 times in the 5 games played. Also spending some time with the EIHL Sheffield Steelers, Haywood was hot property this summer having delivered over a point a game in his first full EPL year.
A remarkable start to recruitment for the Clan, Richardson will no doubt be looking to add some import names to his roster over the next few days especially an excellent set up centre to ensure Walker continues his goal scoring form he brings from Manchester Phoenix.
Contact the Writer: phil.andrews@prohockeynews.com
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