ROMFORD,U.K- Coming hot on the heels of news that the English Premier League Romford Raiders have been saved is the announcement of their first player signings. Long-time Raiders captain Danny Marshall is back as expected, and is joined by Scott Mckenzie and Darren Cotton, who both re-sign after playing for the Raiders last year. 
Nicknamed ‘Super Dan’, Marshall is an integral part to the Raiders and the most successful product of the Romford youth set-up, this will be Marshall’s sixtenth season as a Raider. During this time he has put up over a thousand points for the club, and is closing in on the club founder Gord Jeffrey’s scoring records. Last season Marshall finished as Raiders top point scorer with 78 points (38+40) in 51 games, and was fourth in scoring among British-trained players in the EPL. For Scottish born Mckenzie the 2009-10 season will be his third in a Raiders jersey. The agile forward began his career in Scotland before joining the Chelmsford Chieftains in 2003 for two season’s. After proving to be a hit at the Essex club he was snapped up by Slough Jets for the 2005-06 season, while also making four appearances for doomed Elite League side, the London Racers. The following season he joined Romford Raiders, accumulating 41 points in 44 games, before returning to Chelmsford Chieftains for 2007-08.
Last season he agreed to return to the Raiders after Chieftains were forced to drop into English National league two, due to financial constraints, and put up a career best 61 points (37+24) in 52 games. Darren Cotton is well travelled in British ice hockey and has been successful everywhere he has been. The talented forward started out in Peterborough in the 1993-94 season and has played numerous times for both the Pirates and the Phantoms. He has also played for Chelmsford Chieftains and Invicta Dynamos, as well as making appearances for Elite League teams Cardiff Devils, Nottingham Panthers and London Racers.
The 2008-09 season was his first as a Romford Raider, and he excelled, registering 67 points (29+38) in 51 games, which was good enough for fifth in scoring for British-trained players in the EPL, just behind Danny Marshall. A Romford spokesman said of the signings: “We are absolutely delighted to have Super-Dan, Scottish and DC back. Individually and as a line they had an outstanding season and their return is a key part of Jesse’s (Jesse Hammil) plans for the new season,” “When you sign players who are both popular and tremendously effective it means a huge piece of the team jigsaw is in place. It also gives Danny another year to bear down on Gord Jeffrey’s all time numbers. I’ve lost count of the scoring records Danny now holds at Rom Valley Way but this is the one we all want to see in the skipper’s hands.” Contact the author at Dave.lambert@prohockeynews.com
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