(Image permission: Steve Brodie)
CAMBRIDGE, UK – After last week’s signing sprees, this week has been slow for announcements in what has been anything but a slow news week in National League Ice Hockey.
Telford Tigers grabbed the bragging rights of being the first team to make a signing this week in announcing the return of “Captain Marvel”, Jason Silverthorn for his sixth season.
Speaking about the signing, Silverthorn said: “This season we as a club will embark on another new challenge as we join the newly formed National League and venture into the unknown much like our first season in NIHL.
“After speaking with Tommy (Watkins) and hearing his plans, the future promises to be an exciting one, combined with a return to a league full of competition from top to bottom and some new faces for everyone to get behind.”
Tom Watkins, Head Coach and GM, added: “It was an easy decision to bring back Jason. He is the epitome of what you want from a hockey player – he never gives less than 100% and is an example to the younger lads of how to train, how to prepare for and play games.
“He is a massive asset to the club and I’m sure the fans are as happy as I am to see Jason return for another season. Jason’s scoring record since joining us has been incredible and I look forward to seeing him leading the scoring charts next season.”
This was followed rapidly with the Basingstoke Bison making their first capture of the season with Basingstoke born and trained Ryan Sutton returning to the Bison on a two-year agreement after a season away with the Bracknell Bees.
“I’m really happy to be back playing for my home team in Basingstoke and super excited to get the season started!” he said. “Looking forward to working with Ash (Ashley Tait) and Tosh (Tony Redmond) and getting in front of the home fans again! See you all in September and have a good summer.”
In neighbouring Wiltshire, the Swindon Wildcats secured the return of NIHL1 South Player of the year Chris Jones on a two-year deal. Cardiff-born Jones first played for the Wildcats in the 2012/13 season.
Since then he has had terms with the Cardiff Devils, before returning to Swindon at the beginning of the 17/18 season.
Speaking about the return of Jones, Wildcats’ head coach Aaron Nell said: “Bringing CJ back for two years is huge for us – he’s been a crucial part of the club for two seasons now and is a massive part of our team.
“He has a habit of scoring huge goals for us and is a very important part of our powerplay.”
In one of the least controversial events of the week, the new Leeds National division franchise has a name – Leeds Chiefs.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Chiefs’ player-coach, Sam Zajac, said “It’s good to put a name to the franchise and it is another building block for us as a team.
“It’s another piece in place as we put together all the different components needed for the new season. The ‘Chiefs’ is an identity we can all get behind.”
The name was chosen following consultation with hockey fans via the Yorkshire Post website and Planet ice’s own social media channels.
Planet Ice, the franchise owners, will now look to create a logo and adopt team colours ahead of the beginning of the 2019/20 season which should begin in September.
Also from Planet Ice, the announcement that they had offered the ice time contract to Let’s Play Hockey, the operating consortium that had looked, unsuccessfully, at bringing Elite League Hockey back to Buckinghamshire has caused plenty of debate on numerous platforms.
Due to the expanse of this subject, Pro Hockey News will be covering these events in greater depth shortly, however, with the conformation from the NIHL League management committee a short while later, this does confirm the start size for the NIHL National Division at 10 teams.
This was followed up the next day with the announcement that Lewis Clifford, who had signed on as Head Coach to the Lightning under Lightning Sports Ltd has agreed terms and transferred to LPH to coach the Lightning under the new owners.
Bracknell Bees announced on Wednesday that they had retained the services of Ed Knaggs on their blueline. The 21-year-old former Bracknell junior impressed Head Coach Doug Shepperd in his first season with the Bees with three goals for 23 points and just eight PIM and has been offered a return.
Speaking about the signing on the Bees website, Knaggs said: “I’m delighted to be back at the Hive next season. With the team Doug’s putting together I’m sure we will be in the hunt for trophies next season and I can’t wait to get started.”
On Thursday Telford struck again, this time announcing the return of Jonathan Weaver. The 42-year-old Sunderland native picked up 13 goals for 60 points last season, (league leading for a defenseman), which saw the Tigers challenging for silverware in NIHL1N until the final weekend of the season.
Tom Watkins, Head Coach and GM, said, “Weaves is one of the best British players of all time and he is still consistently one of the best players on the ice every game.
“He brings so much to the team with his experience, know-how and all-round competitive nature – he is an example to all the younger players as to what it takes to succeed. Any team in this league would love to have Jonathan and we are lucky to have him.”
Swindon also announced the return of popular Scottish ‘D’ Man Tyler Plews. He joined the Wildcats from the EIHL Edinburgh Capitals last season and has made an impact with the home fans and visiting players in slightly different ways.
Speaking with the Swindon Advertiser, Plews said: “I am absolutely over the moon to be back in Swindon for another year. It was a no-brainer for me to come back when Aaron offered me the opportunity to.
“I know I have just gone back to Scotland, but I cannot wait to be back in Swindon this August, see all the boys again and prepare for the new season.
“I feel like last year was a successful season, but we know the upcoming campaign will be tough. We need to look to improve on last year, and with the calibre of players we have in Swindon, we can.”
(Image permission: Duncan Speirs)
As mentioned previously, the Sheffield Steeldogs had made a stealth signing which had been announced during an interview with Steeldogs TV. Club captain Lewis Bell is back for his eleventh season with the South Yorkshire side.
Speaking to Roger Williams during the interview, Bell said: “When I sign on for the Steeldogs each season, it feels like a bit of a given because although I don’t take it for granted that I will be asked back, it’s known that I won’t contemplate playing elsewhere.
“I just want to play for Sheffield year-on-year. I have never played for any other club – it’s something that I pride myself on.
“I am looking forward to getting back to a national league – although it has been good over the last couple of years, seeing some different rinks and different players and being at the top of the league, however you want to play against the best every week. Being back with all those teams next year is going to be really good.”
Steeldogs’ coach Ben Morgan was equally happy with the captain’s return saying: “Belly’s game has really changed over the past couple of years. His on-ice management, his passion doesn’t spill over anymore, he leads by example and he took that ‘C’ on his shirt to a whole new level.
“He doesn’t back down from any confrontation and was at the forefront of making sure no one took liberties with our team, but he did it without putting himself or the team in jeopardy.
“He was a real standout player for us at the end of the season. He will be captain again next season. He’s the obvious choice and I’m sure he takes great pride in it.”
Basingstoke made a second signing of the week when they announced the return of Michal Klejna. The 31-year-old Slovakian will begin his second season with the Herd having scored 23 goals for 57 points in his first season with the Hampshire side.
Speaking on the Bison website, Klejna said: “Ash and Tony know very well what they needed to do – last season we had a great group of players and they are starting to put together an awesome group of people, that can win a lot. Its an exciting time for the Bison and I want to be part of this group.”
Some last minute news from the Hull Pirates to round off the week, as it was revealed in the Hull Daily Mail that Lubomir Kohorn and James Archer will not be returning to the NIHL1 North treble winning side next season.
Speaking to the Mail, General Manager Andre Payette said: “Lubo was awesome for us, but his kids are at school back home. It was tough for him as he was here four months without his family. I think he is looking at playing, maybe back home. Right now we are looking at all options but Lubo has said he would like to be with his family.”
Payette also advised that Archer had told the club as early as the middle of last season that he would be unlikely to return and is expected to be spending more time with his family and business.
And finally, while not National Division news as such, as first mentioned here two weeks ago, it is now confirmed that GB National Team Coach Pete Russell will leave the Glasgow Clan to join EHC Freiburg in DEL 2 next season. Freiburg recently avoided relegation to the Oberliga, (German third tier), in the Play Down Series.
Russell will be taking over from Jan Melichar, who is likely to become his assistant coach. Those of you with longer memories than I, (and thanks to Anthony Russell – @bannersOTW for this), will remember Melichar from his time at the Slough Jets, Bracknell Bees and Swindon Wildcats in the EPL.
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