New import for Romford

ROMFORD, UK – Romford Raiders have added four new faces to their roster, including their first of two imports.
 
Lithuanian forward Algimantas Visockas arrives at the club, while Steve Paris, Stuart Low and David Oliver all return to the gold and blue.
 
23 year old Visockas has been training with the team at Rom Valley Way after being recommended to the team by former player Andrius Kaminskas. He previously played with top Lithuanian team Energija Elektrenai for six seasons. In that time he put registered 18 goals and 21 assists, for a total of 39 points.
A Romford spokesman said: “Al has been capped at junior and senior level for his country and has played in the tough Latvian League for Energija Elektrenai. If you look at his stats cold they don’t look amazing but these are numbers in World Championship hockey and, frankly, a much higher quality league standard than we expect this season.
“Stats are one thing but better to see the guy in action anyway, we thought. His first session with us was in borrowed equipment, skates

included, but he looked the part straight away. The line he’s played on in training looks pretty potent and we think he can grab goals as well as being a playmaker. Danny liked him enough to offer Al a team spot so now we await ITC clearance and formal registration.”
Steve Paris re-signs for the club after appearing for the team during their difficult 09/10 campaign. He also appeared for the Romford Fury in ENL2. The 33 year old is a feisty forward that impressed in the EPL, putting up eight points in 26 games.
Stuart Low spent seven seasons with the Raiders earlier in his career. In recent seasons he has also played for ENL giants Invicta Dynamos, and he appeared for Romford Fury in ENL2 last season.
The final signing is solid defenceman David Oliver. Oliver is only 21, but made his Raiders debut three years ago in the 07/08 season. He started last season with Invicta Dynamos, but returned home to the Raiders for the final months of the season.
These latest signings leave Romford with just one final signing to make, that of their second import. The Raiders spokesman said: “Coach Marshall now has a short list from which the second ITC holder is almost certain to be selected. There are no unknown quantities and all players on the list have already trained at Rom Valley Way.”
Coach Danny Marshall said: “I’m more than happy with the squad I am putting together and feel we have a good contingent of players who all will have a role to play. There is a mixture of young and older players who have the ability to do what is required of them. Their fitness has improved immensely during the short time they have been training, and can only get better.”
Romford have hit a few fixture problems, and their early season schedule has had some major changes made to it. They were meant to open their campaign away at Cardiff last weekend, but the game had to be cancelled. Their double-header against rivals Chelmsford has also now been cancelled, due to the Chieftains’ rink problems. Romford will now begin their season at home against Bristol Pitbulls on September 19^th.
Contact the author dave.lambert@prohockeynews.com