(Image permission: David Morrison)
CAMBRIDGE, UK – As yet science has not found a unit of time small enough to measure the gap between last week’s edition hitting the press and this week’s signings beginning. Rather than signings though, this time it was departures.
On Sunday, Sheffield Steeldogs announced the departure of Duncan Speirs to an unnamed Elite League club. Speaking about his departure, the 21-year-old Scot, who picked up 33 goals for 55 points in 54 games said: âThanks to everyone for everything last year.
“I wouldnât have been able to make the next step up without you giving me the chance to play for an ex-EPL club and more professional set up. I really appreciate it, it means a lot. I hope you have a great season this year and I wish you all the best.”
Spiers’ destination was revealed on Friday as it was announced that he had signed with the EIHL Dundee Stars.
Another departure, this time from Swindon came when Max Birbraer. A third round draft pick for the New Jersey Devils back in 2000, Birbraer came to the UK in 2009 with the Cardiff Devils and joined the Telford Tigers for the 2014/15 season before joining Swindon in the 16/17 Season. Since then, he’s played 123 games for the Wildcats, scoring 43 goals for 167 points.
On Tuesday, Telford continued to build their squad at a rate that would leave your average brickie dazed with the announcement that Jack Watkins, younger brother of head coach and GM, Tom Watkins would be returning to the Shropshire side.
âI am very happy to be returning to Telford for the forthcoming season,” he said. “I have enjoyed the last two years here and it was an easy decision to return. I think the new league we are playing in will be a great challenge and I am looking forward to getting back on the ice. We are aiming to be challenging for all the silverware available.”
The Tigers continued their building apace the following day with the return of Corey Goodison to their blueline. Goodison scored a welcome six goals for 27 points last season, one of the reasons coach Watkins moved to retain the 21-year-old.
âItâs great to have Corey back. He is a reliable D-man and has forged a good partnership with Jonathan Weaver,” said Watkins. âLast season saw Corey mature as a player and he has shown that he has an effective shot from the blue line and scored some valuable goals. I expect him to increase his points total next season.â
There were more farewells to be made in Hampshire as the Basingstoke Bison announced that Danny Ingoldsby and Chris Cooke would not be returning to the herd for the new season with head coach Ashley Tait wishing them well and good luck for the future.
Happier news was found in Buckinghamshire though as Milton Keynes Lightning announced the retention of James Griffin for his fifth season in Lightning colours having joined the side during its EPL days.
Speaking about his signing on the MK Lightning website, Head Coach Lewis Clifford said: âGriff is a guy who any team in the league would be ecstatic to sign, he is an outstanding defenceman, plays extremely hard every night and his skating ability and natural sense of positioning and timing makes him very hard to beat.
âPlaying back in the Elite League the last couple of years hasnât allowed Griff to show his offensive capabilities as much as he would like, but I certainly think we will see him contributing regularly in the offensive zone as well as being a lynchpin in our end.”
Swindon Wildcats announced the return of Floyd Taylor for the new season. As a forward, Taylor picked up 18 goals for 26 points last season along side 50 PIM on course to the NIHL1 South League title.
Speaking to swindonwildcats.com, the 24-year-old Swindon native said: âIâm really happy to be back in Swindon for another year. Aaron Looks like he is building a good team and I think we have a real chance of winning some more silverware next year.
“It is always an honour to play for my home town team and I am lucky to have done that for the last seven years now. Every year the players and back-room staff make it enjoyable to play in and I cannot wait to get started again in September!”
Another home town player was announced this week, this time in South Yorkshire as Cam Brownley returned to the Steeldogs. Brownley has seen less of the penalty box over the last season, and had this to say about his return: âIt was an easy decision to stay in Sheffield for another year really â itâs my home town team.
“I want to be a Steeldog because of the core group of players, Iâve been around quite a while now and this isnât just a team, itâs more like a family.
âI feel I have come on a lot since Morgs [Head Coach Ben Morgan] became the coach. My confidence has grown and I just want to carry on my progression and see where it takes me.
“I think Iâve developed both on and off the ice – Iâve got more into the gym and other fitness so this has had an effect on my all-round game and players in the room help a lot too, they can build your confidence. Morgs also understands me and the way I like to work, he breeds confidence in the room.â
(Image permission: Five Hole Photography)
After the departures of Cooke and Ingoldsby earlier in the week, Basingstoke fans were happier with the news that Liam Morris had agreed terms to remain with the club for the 2019/20 season.
Morris who will start his second season with the Herd picked up ninr goals for 20 points last season, also guested twice for the Manchester Storm.
Head Coach Ashley Tait said: âI’m excited to see Liam return once again for the upcoming season. He took a while to settle into life and hockey here in Basingstoke, but I really think he’s going to come back with a point to prove. His versatility is a big plus for us and was a big reason to bring him back.”
The following day the Bison announced the return of defenceman and NIHL All-star Adam Jones. Jones picked up seven goals for 31 points and 58 PIM in his first season with the Herd.
Speaking to the Basingstoke Gazette, Coach Tait said: âAdam was a big piece of the puzzle and one of the top defenceman in our league and I would have voted for him for the All-Star team if I could have done so, but you canât vote for your own players. I think being his second year in Basingstoke he will be even better this season.â
Thursday saw the Tigers announce their third signing of the week with the return of Defenceman Nick Oliver. The 22-year-old, Liverpool born blueliner has signed on for his third season with the Tigers having produced five goals for 17 points over the previous two seasons with the Shropshire side.
Tom Watkins was happy to retain the services of the youngster saying: âI am delighted that Nick has agreed to return for the forthcoming season. He is a player that I know can be relied upon defensively and he has a deceptively hard shot. Nick is someone who always plays with a lot of passion and he will be an important part of our defensive core next season.â
Continuing a busy day, Bracknell Bees announced the return of 18-year-old forward Zack Milton. Milton was a busy player last season, icing for four Bracknell sides â Under 18’s, Under 20’s, Bracknell Hornets and the Bees with a combined total of 30 goals for 53 points.
Speaking on the youngsters return on the Bees website, Head Coach, Doug Sheppard said: âZack got an opportunity last season and made the most of it. He has the potential to be one of the best power forwards in the league. I wouldnât be surprised if Zach attracts some Elite League attention in the near future.â
To complete Thursday’s business, former Manchester Phoenix import Robin Kovar was announced as leaving NIHL 1 North’s Blackburn Hawks, causing immediate speculation that the player could be on their way across the Pennines to new team Leeds Chiefs alongside former teammate and fellow ex-Phoenix player Luke Boothroyd.
On Friday, Essex based Raiders IHC announced the returns of both Mason Webster and Sean Barry. Webster only played part of the season following a broken leg at the beginning of the season, but still managed 6 goals for 18 points in 18 games with 100 PIM.
Sean Barry also returns to the Gold and Blue following a string season for the Raiders, picking up three goals for 16 points and just 30 PIMs. Speaking to the Romford Recorder, Barry said: “I’m very excited to be back in the gold and blue and to be playing in front of the best fans.
“When coach Sean Easton told me about the new league set-up, I knew I wanted to stay at the Raiders as I think we can surprise a few teams again this upcoming season.”
Following the loss of Duncan Spiers earlier in the week, Steeldogs fans had some good news on Saturday with the announcement that Moscow born Netminder Dimitri Zimozdra would return to the ‘Pound next season.
The 31-year-old, who celebrated his birthday the same day he was announced, (happy birthday Dima), achieved a SvS 0f 0.92 in the regular season and 0.916 in the play offs and was a âmust signâ for Steeldogs headcoach Ben Morgan.
âThe starting netminder position was a high priority for me, it was the first position I wanted to get down on paper,” he said. “I didnât want to look anywhere else than Dima, so if he wanted the option of playing for another year with us, he was going to have it 100%.
âHe was probably the hungriest out of everyone last season, and having missed out on the opportunity to play alongside us in Coventry he was desperate to come back to have another go at it – whether itâs for one year or two years or five years. He is fully focussed on next season and that can only be a good thing for us.
âOn the ice he is calm, he never lets things get to him â he is someone who you can rely and depend upon in all situations. He has time and time again got us out of a hole. He has been the man, be it in end to end action or penalty shoot outs that nine times out 10 has got us on the right side of the scoreline.
“His playing credentials speak for themselves; everybody knows what he is about, everyone speaks highly about him in the locker room. He is easy going, relaxedâŠsometimes too relaxed some people might say but thatâs just Dima, heâs just a great guy to have around the team.
âWhen he gets to the rink, he is switched on in âgame modeâ and thatâs what you need from your starting keeper week in, week out. He brings a wealth of experience and it gives you so much confidence when you turn around and you have Dima in the net, and other teams when they face him will know they have to be on their top game.â
MK Lightning the final signing of the week at the time of going to print, confirming the capture of 20-year-old defensive player Jordan Stokes from Telford Tigers.
Head Coach Lewis Clifford said: âJordan is still a young man, but brings with him experience of NIHL1 as it has been the last two years, the old EPL, junior international and some time spent in the Elite League.
âAll of these different levels of hockey and coaching he has been exposed to will enable him to fit in to both our team ethos, but also our systems and style of play.
âJordan was recommended to me by one of our players and immediately I started to ask around to see what people knew about him. Similar reports came back from several people, who told me that he is a good skater who is positionally aware and uses these attributes to make smart simple plays.â
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