CAMBRIDGE, UK – Barely had last week’s update hit the site than the signings for this week began.
On Sunday, Milton Keynes Lightning brought another new face, this time 18-year-old Brodie Jesson from Telford Tigers.
Jesson made his senior team debut for the Tigers shortly after his 16th birthday playing a total of 21 games in the EPL alongside playing for the under 18s. In his last season, still only 17, he ran up 9 goals for 18 points.
Speaking about the signing to MKFM.com, head coach Lewis Clifford said: “He is a young man who is keen to learn, which will stand us in good stead as he has all the skills he needs and plays with a bit of an edge. That high skill and compete level coupled with his willingness to learn will make him a real asset to our team.
“He has been well coached in Telford by Tom Watkins so he comes here with a good hockey education behind him. He will now be coached in a different way in a different club which will add to his overall experience and aid in his development.”
In Yorkshire, bank holiday or not, Leeds Chiefs player/coach Sam Zajac made his debut signing in the form of Luke Boothroyd. The veteran ‘D’ man began his career in the BNL playing for the Hull Stingrays in 2003/04 season, remaining for five years before switching to Manchester Phoenix, remaining with them until their untimely demise in the middle of the 2016/17 season.
Since then Boothroyd has played for the Blackburn Hawks in NIHL1N. Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Zajac said: “He’s been a great player at this level for a number of years. He’s played for GB, he’s experienced, he’s won plenty in the past. You know exactly what he’s going to bring and that is the kind of guy you want to build a team around.”
In South Yorkshire, It wasn’t so much hello as goodbye as the Steeldogs announced the departures of Andy Hirst, Liam Charnock, Tom Relf, Adrian Palak, Jamie Scott, Joe Cross and Aaron Jepson.
Speaking on the Steeldogs website, player/coach Ben Morgan expressed his gratitude both personally and on behalf of the club to the departing players, mentioning their contributions and achievements over the last few seasons.
If past patterns continue, it is expected that a number of these players may sign to other Yorkshire based teams for the coming season.
In Shropshire, Telford continued their run of signings. On Tuesday, Telford junior Dan Mitchell was announced. Mitchell had been splitting his time between the NIHL1 side and the Tigers’ U18 team, but will now concentrate purely on the senior team.
Mitchell, who ran up 28 points in 33 games last season, said: “I’m excited to be back with the Tigers for the 2019/20 season. I’ve really enjoyed the last two seasons and with my junior career now behind me, I’m looking forward to working hard to compete and work my way up the line-up.
“I like to bring a physical, gritty game and try to create some energy for the team to feed off. Tom has given me a great opportunity and I’ll do everything I can to repay the faith he has shown in me.”
Tigers boss, Tom Watkins. was quick to praise the youngster: “Dan has joined us as a senior player this season and we have seen a rapid progression in his development over the last two season with him playing up from the U18 team.
“Dan has excellent speed, good hand eye co-ordination and is not afraid of being physical. This year will be a test for him and I am sure he is up for the challenge.”
(Image permission: Steve Brodie)
The Tigers struck again on Wednesday by announcing the return of defenceman Danny Rose for his eighth season with the team. Nottingham-born Rose is a product of the Nottingham junior system which saw him play five games for the EIHL Panthers while still a junior.
Watkins said: “I’m pleased to see Danny return for his eighth season with us. He is one of those players who at times goes unnoticed but his teammates appreciate how hard he works for them and what a good job he does.
“He is a solid stay at home defenceman and always stands up for his teammates. He would be an asset to any club, so I’m pleased he has decided to re-sign with us.”
Late Wednesday night saw MK Lightning confirm the signing of Caly Robertson to the new incarnation of the club.
Wednesday also saw the end of one of the shortest retirements in Hockey as the Peterborough Phantoms announced the return of Ales Padelek.
The 39-year-old Czech had one of his highest scoring seasons in 18/19 hitting the net 34 times for 63 points.
Phantoms head coach, Slava Koulikov, was pleased at Padelek’s change of heart saying: “I am really pleased to see Padi is committing to us again for another season on the ice.
“In my view Glenny, Jimmy and Padi were consistently the best line in the league and I’m thrilled to see that line will be back together again next season.” The Phantoms PR ended by noting that the line-up is now complete – the first National Division team to do so this year.
It was noted previously that one player from last year’s treble winning Phantoms side has not yet put pen to paper. James White was missing from the long list, and at the time was rumoured to be exploring a move to the Swindon Wildcats, however sources close to the player have indicated that he is instead taking time away from ice hockey for the foreseeable future.
On Thursday, Swindon announced the return of 25-year-old defenceman Sam Godfrey for his second full season in Wiltshire after trying his hand in the Elite League.
Godfrey picked up one goal for 15 points, with 95 penalty minutes in all competitions last season and is looking forward to continuing his time with the club.
“I’m very happy to return to the Wildcats again next season,” he said. “It’s good fun to play alongside these guys week in week out and I think we are all really looking forward to the season getting underway again in September.
“Winning the league was an awesome feeling, but this year will be tougher so we have to be prepared to compete every night to achieve the goals we set ourselves at the start of the season.”
Telford announced their third signing for the week with the acquisition of Ross Kennedy from the NIHL1N Blackburn Hawks. The 21-year-old Welsh defenceman scored 11 goals for 36 points last season and clearly caught the eye of Tigers boss, Tom Watkins.
“Ross was a player that stood out when we played Blackburn last season so I am delighted to add him to our roster for next season”, he said. “Ross is a fast skater and has an excellent shot – he is a young player who will benefit from playing at this level and will add depth to our blueline.
Down in Essex and Raiders IHC head coach Sean Easton has again been busy. This time securing the return of British trained players JJ Pitchley and Olegs Lascenko. Pitchley is entering his sixth season with the club having already made 152 appearances in a Raiders jersey.
Speaking to the Romford Recorder, Pitchley said: “It’s my hometown team – it’s like family and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being in the new National League, it will be a taste of the old-school EPL days that I missed out on the last time the Raiders were in the league.”
Olegs Lascenko returns to the Raiders after a year playing for his hometown Leipaja in the Latvian League. “I’m very excited to come back to the club at which I started my career in England as a junior,” he said.
“I hope this year will help me gain more experience and progress as a player. Last season wasn’t as great as I wanted it to be, but not everything is perfect, there were still many positive things that I have learnt.
“The main thing is that I moved back to defence, which was a big decision for me.”
A little to the west in Bracknell, the Bees have confirmed the re-signing of defenceman Harvey Stead. The 23-year-old, who has played almost continuously for the Berkshire side for his whole career, said: “I’m really happy to be returning to the Bees again next year. Last year was a big improvement for me and I’m working on being that much better again this year.
“The work that everyone has done off the ice, the school zone especially, is phenomenal! Reaching Coventry was something special for the club, but it’s now time to come back with a trophy. Enjoy the summer and see you all in September.”
(Image permission: Charlotte Flanigan)
On Friday, Sheffield Steeldogs announced the return of Nathan Salem to the South Yorkshire side. Salem who has previously played for Telford and Peterborough, joined the team at the beginning of last season and has committed to a second season for the ‘Dogs.
Steeldogs owner Ali Cree was delighted with the news saying: “Having seen his development over the years, it was especially pleasing to finally get him in a Dogs jersey. He was a very consistent performer on the ice and a great role-model for our younger players.
“He’s also been a good fit with the group of guys we have in Sheffield, so we are really happy to have him back for a second season and as part of the team as we head in to the NIHL National League.”
Later on Friday came the news that recently announced defenceman Sam Jones would now not be joining the Wildcats for the 19/20 season, having been signed by an unnamed Elite League team.
“Speaking about the unexpected departure, Wildcats head coach Aaron Nell said: “I’m delighted for Sam on signing in the Elite League and I remember talking to him at the start of last season about this being his goal for his first year back in the UK.
“Of course we would have liked him back in Swindon next season, but as a club we pride ourselves on developing young British players so it’s great for Sam to be the one to make that step.”
Nell made no comment about attempting to replace the young blueliner, only that they were “strengthening in other areas”.
And finally, MK Lightning have confirmed the signing of Harry Ferguson. Ferguson started last season with Peterborough being released to make room for the returning Martins Susters.
After that, Ferguson moved to the Buckinghamshire side, playing at that time in the Elite League and soon became a fan favourite.
Lightning head coach Lewis Clifford said: “He is a big lad, he plays hard every night, competes and battles along the walls and in the corners and goes to the net with a purpose.”
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