BRACKNELL, UK – One of the more surprising transfers within the English National League this summer was the transfer of Wightlink Raiders forward Danny Hughes to current Play-Off Champions Bracknell Hornets.
Despite being the fourth top scorer in the league last year with 45 goals and 32 assists in his 35 appearances for Wightlink, 6ft Hughes was deemed surplus to requirements by the Raiders management this summer. Many observers of the league were rather surprised by this, not least the player himself:
“I ended last season as the team’s top scorer” said Hughes. “However the club decided to let me go for a new look forward line. I wasn’t asked to return for some reason but I guess that’s hockey”
Hughes in action (Photo by Tim Bowers)
The Raiders endured a relatively disappointing league campaign with a sixth place finish in 2009/10, before surprising everyone with a fantastic play-off campaign that only ended with a final defeat to Hughes’s new club Bracknell. Hughes believes that the chance to wipe the slate clean ready for the season finale, really gave the team a boost:
“Obviously we did not do as well as expected during the regular season” said the 27 year old. “Once we knew that we could not win the league that gave us time to prepare for the play-offs. All the lads were really fired up, and with the likes of Stewart Tait, Steve Gannaway and Luke Reynolds in the team, the spirit was there and we had the experience to back it up,
“The fans on the island were great towards me and I would like to thank them for their support, and also express my gratitude to Steve Porter who kindly sponsored me last season”
After such a good season last year, Hughes says he received a number of offers from clubs in both the English Premier League and ENL, but the left winger says that it was a twist of fate followed by his sticking to a promise that saw him return to his home club:
“I received some really good offers from various clubs” said Harrow born Hughes. “Unfortunately, Wightlink left it late letting me know their plans, and I missed out on a spot with an EPL team I was in talks with, and they subsequently filled their squad,
“I had already made a promise to Bracknell that if I was to play ENL and not return to Wightlink, then I would come back”
Spirited Tait (Photo by Tim Bowers)
Bracknell Hornets have seen a number of personnel changes since lifting the Play-Off trophy last season, and it will be interesting to see how the squad cope under new coach Ben Pitchley at the Hive. Hughes believes that people would be foolish to write his new side off:
“I am really looking forward to this year and things are really coming together at Bracknell” he smiles. “The other teams in the league are improving but Ben (Pitchley) has done well to bring in the likes of Ben Austin, Danny House, Greg Martyn and Luke Reynolds, not to mention retaining a number of quality players from last year’s team,
“We have a really strong young team and it should be an exciting and fun year to play here, and I can’t wait for the opener against Oxford”
So after a few years of island life, Hughes is now back home, but how will he cope with adapting from Wightlink’s small ice surface to the vast expanse of ice at the Hive?
“Bracknell is a big pad no doubt, especially compared to the Island” he laughs. “But I spent a good number of memorable years at Bracknell so I am sure it won’t take long to get used too. I have been working on my fitness and training throughout the summer so I shouldn’t have any problems in that respect”
Bracknell Hornets have lined up two pre season friendlies with the re-formed Slough ENL Jets and details are on their website: http://www.freewebs.com/bracknell-hornets/
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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