SWINDON, UK – So at last we have reached what by comparison was a quiet week with just a handful of signings; but interestingly a week for the youngsters. Take the Bison who signed three players with a combined age of fifty-three, which sounds like a bargain if you are shopping for tyres, but makes you feel positively ancient if you are a grand-parent.
First, British forward Cameron Wynn was called up but is no stranger to the Basingstoke side having provided some injury cover when the Bison secumbed to injury difficulties last season. Wynn joins from the juniors although he also has some ENL experience with the Buffalo.
Also on board are Connor Standing, also from the juniors, who signed as back-up netminder to Stevie Lyle from whom he will probably learn a lot, while Jacob Heron is almost an old hand at nineteen having played in Milton Keynes at all levels for five years, plus having a Bison season already under his belt.
The Phantoms added to their blue line with former ‘prospect player’ Nathan Pollard, also only nineteen, for a second term although he does already have a half-season in his account.
Joining him is Robert Ferrara from the ENL Islanders who iced a season for the Phantoms a few years back, but in signing on with brothers Luke and James piques the curiosity of how often three brothers have played for the same side. Although Robert appeared twice for the Phantoms last season, a cursory root through old rosters suggest a family trio playing together is about as rare as a politician submitting an honest expenses claim.
The Tigers joined in the youth movement by adding 17-year old D-man Danny Rose from the ENL Nottingham Lions, and then added the slightly older Ryan Selwood who has both ENL and EIHL experience behind him.
With fourteen players signed, so the bulk of the team, the Tigers are developing into an even younger side than last season when their average age was a tad under 24. Currently, they weigh in at around eighteen months less, and if you take out the few older players then you arrive at an average below twenty.
The only other side close to that was the Steeldogs last season who averaged 22, although, interestingly, it is rising this year. At the other end of the scale the Flames, with an average age just under 30, appear almost ready to collect their pensions.
But while it would be tempting to suggest the Flames’ additional experience proved age matters, that should be weighed against the fact that the Steeldogs were also very successful last season, and despite their youth the Tigers too improved. Of course, there are other factors like budgets to be taken into account when considering the importance of age, but what stands out is that the EPL is supposed to develop young players and all this is that procedure in practise, and with the improvements already shown it indicates a positive future for young players under the umbrella of the English Ice Hockey Association. That is, so long as you don’t take the advice of my old grand-pappy who in quoting Oscar Wilde mused, ‘To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable.’
So, with the youths out of the way the Flames stuck with a tried and tested Canadian with the re-signing of forward Nathan Rempel for a forth season. Rempel ended last season as a top ten EPL goal scorer and top ten points scorer on game average.
The Bees, meanwhile, re-signed British D-man Andy Munroe for a second season, and the Steeldogs British forward Stuart Brittle for what will be his ninth spell in Sheffield. And in a flurry of activity at the end of the week the Phoenix added British forwards Jake Nurse from the ENL Metros, and Scott McKenzie, a top ten British goal scorer, who had left the Tigers in April after two seasons.
So that about wraps it up for another week in the EPL.
For more EPL facts and figures, stats news and more take a look at www.iceman-epl.com
Contact Bill.Collins@prohockeynews.com
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