(Image permission: Steve Brodie)
CAMBRIDGE, UK – This week’s signings started a little earlier than usual, with the new MKL ownership reconfirming the signing of Russ Cowley to the Lightning team. Jordan Lawday and Rio Grinnell-Park followed suit later in the week. It is expected that Leigh Jamieson will follow shortly.
The first “proper” signing of the week this week goes to Hull Pirates. It was reported in the Hull Daily Mail that Sam Towner has put pen to paper in a deal he called “a no-brainer”.
Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail, 24-year-old forward Towner, who also teaches locally, said: “Obviously last year was a long season of ups and downs but it was great to be a part of what we did at the end of the season.
“Winning the treble was a great way to end the season and obviously the formation of the new league presents a new challenge and being the competitor I am I just want to try and retain what we won last year.
“I’m sure Jason Hewitt will do well with recruitment and we will be challenging again next year.”
Again, speaking to the paper, player coach Jason Hewitt added: “I think Sam was a big reason for our success last year. To play three lines means you need three good centres and Sam was one of them.
“He will be key to us carrying on where we left off last year. He brings so much to the team, you can’t get enough of those guys that you can rely on night in, night out.
“From a coach’s point of view he is perfect because you know what he’s going to give you every night. You can put him on at the ends of periods to win a draw and things like that. He’s as valuable as anyone.”
Telford Tigers continued their signings on Wednesday with the return of Scott McKenzie. McKenzie has been a regular in the Tigers line-up and is also a coach with Telford and Midlands Under 15 teams.
He said: “I’m really happy to be returning to the Tigers for another season. With the step up in league it should be a great year for the club to test itself against quality opposition week in, week out. I look forward to that challenge.”
Tigers head coach and GM, Tom Watkins, was equally happy: “I’m delighted that Scott has decided to return this season. He is the kind of player that is easy to coach, works hard every shift and puts his body on the line for his team.
“Scott is a favourite of the Tigers’ fans because he gives his all for the club every game, the fans recognise that and he quite rightly is a popular player with them. He will be a player we lean on heavily next season, but I know Scott is up for the challenge.”
No sooner than the Tigers had announced this signing, but the next one came along. On Wednesday the Tigers announced the signing of Ollie Lord who will join the team on a 2-way deal with the EIHL Coventry Blaze.
Lord, who guested for the MK Thunder last season, will wear #15 with the Tigers. Both Blaze head coach Danny Stewart and Tigers boss Tom Watkins had a lot of good things to say about the young D man.
“I am pleased to be joining Telford on a two way deal and look forward to getting to meet the rest of the team when pre-season training starts.
Lord said to the Tigers website: “I hope to be competing for silverware in the new league and know that this move will aid my development as a hockey player.”
The Blaze will look to call up Lord whenever the opportunity arises, however he is expected to ice the majority of the season for the Tigers.
Bracknell Bees announced the partial return of Ivan Antonov. Antonov who is continuing his education in London, decided to sign a two-way deal between the Bracknell Bees and the NIHL1 side Streatham IHC.
He will primarily ice for the London side and will ice for the Bees when commitments allow. Streatham IHC head coach, Adam Carr, is understandably delighted with the signing saying: “Vanny is a top class player and a massive signing for the club. He is going to bring us a lot of speed, skill and composure that I think we have lacked at times.
“I’ve played against him many times and I’ve never enjoyed trying to keep up with him, he is highly skilled, skates well and can create and score goals.
“He has a great attitude and I’m really looking forward to working with him. I think the Streatham fans are going to really enjoy watching him play. We have agreed with the Bees that he can ice with them on a two way deal, so if we don’t have a game he will be helping Bracknell should they need him.”
The Tigers made it #3 on Thursday with the announcement that Andy McKinney would return for the new season. Canadian born, but British trained McKinney scored 35 goals in all NIHL Competition for 97 points in the 18/19 season, with 202 PIMs.
Speaking about McKinney’s return, Coach Watkins commented: “Andy was one of the first names on the list of players that I wanted to return from last season. He brings a unique skillset to the team, he scores goals, can play on all special teams and brings grit to the line-up.
He will stick up for his team mates and is someone who competes on every shift. He will be a big asset to this group.”
In Wiltshire, Swindon Wildcats head coach, Aaron Nell, moved to retain the services of veteran defenceman Neil Liddiard.
Liddiard, who made his debut for the Wildcats playing the British Division 1 in the 93/94 season, will return for his 9th season playing for Swindon in a long and storied career that has seen 102 goals for 408 points in 25 seasons.
Speaking to the Wildcats’ website, Liddiard said: “It was a really simple decision to sign for another year. Swindon is a great organisation and it has the best fans in the league.
“I feel very fortunate to be able to play for another year, and I hope to help the team build on the recent success we have had over the last couple of seasons. We want to bring some more trophies back to Swindon and the new league will be tough, it’s exciting and we cannot wait to get started in September.”
On Thursday it was announced that Ryan Webb had made the move from Streatham to Bracknell as the Bees latest signing. Webb had previously iced for the Bracknell Hornets so is no stranger to the Hive.
Bees head coach, Doug Shepperd, said: “Ryan is exactly the type of player we were looking for, someone who is hungry to play hockey at the highest level he can. Ryan will cause a lot of problems for the opposition with his great speed. He’s going to fit in well on and off the ice at the Hive.”
Thursday continued to be a busy day for signings with the Basingstoke Bison announcing the return of Scottish born Jay King to the Herd on a two year deal. In a short video clip posted to the Bison twitter page King said that he was happy to be back with the Bison and was looking forward to seeing everyone in September.
Later the same day, Hull made their second announcement of the week for the return of club captain Jamie Chilcott.
Chilcott is a product of the Hull junior system and spent four seasons playing in North America before returning to Hull with the now defunct Stingrays in the EIHL.
Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail about the captain’s return, player coach Jason Hewitt said: “Chilly is pretty experienced for his age, unfortunately he took a bad hit late last season and struggled with it. However, Jamie is a player I could not see our team being without, I’m glad to have him back.”
The final signings on the week land in Essex as the London Raiders announced the return of Ollie Baldock and Jake Sylvester to the line-up.
The Chelmsford born duo join previous signings of Aaron Connolly and Dan Scott who signed with the club earlier in the summer.
Speaking to the Romford Recorder, Sylvester said: “I’m definitely excited to be returning to the Raiders line-up; I think the club is moving forward, and this year we will be in a lot more closer games and pushing teams all the way.
“I also think it’s going to be a challenge for everyone, not only physically but mentally. There are a lot on long journeys that bring with them a lot of late nights and as a club that hasn’t had to travel as much as we will this year we need to prepare for a tough season.
Also speaking to the Recorder, fellow forward Baldock explained that he was also excited to return after a tough season that saw him miss a significant chunk of the campaign due to injuries.
He also said that “with a new league structure in place it will be a new exciting experience for myself, challenging, but one we’re ready for. With the standard improving it will only improve us as players, as a team and as a club.
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