ROMFORD,U.K- Romford Raiders have completed their squad for the coming season with the signings of Dean Tonks and Jonathan Sitko. Tonks is a 20 year-old British forward who joins the Raiders after playing for ENL side Solihull Barons last season, where he averaged nearly three points per game.
Tonks developed his game playing for junior teams in Sheffield, Telford and Nottingham, where he scored for fun, before making the jump to the EPL at the tender age of 17 with Solihull Barons. He had a good first season, totalling 18 points in 42 games (11+7).
The following season he registered 27 points (17+10) with the Peterborough Phantoms, while also spending time at the Telford Tigers, before returning to Solihull last year. The 5’ 10”, 170lbs winger also won a gold medal with the Great Britain under-18s in 2006.
While only young Tonks possesses quick hands and a good shot, and may well get a chance to skate with the import forwards on the first line. His signing continues the Raider’s strategy this season of signing young, hungry players. A Romford spokesman said; “Dean has talent in abundance and is ready for another go at EPL hockey. Now’s the time to repeat the success he enjoyed as a junior and we’re pleased that he will be part of this Romford team. He’ll be living down here so will definitely benefit from not having to commute for training and game days.” Canadian defenseman Sitko is Raiders fourth and final import. The 25 year-old started his career in the NCAA with Bowling Green State University, where he played for four years. For the following three years Sitko plied his trade in the ECHL with Toledo Storm and the Gwinnett Gladiators. Last season Sitko arrived in the UK, and had a successful season with the Swindon Wildcats, where he put up 36 points (10+26), and impressed crowds with his huge open-ice hits and gritty style.
Raiders’ team manager Mick Cahill spoke of Sitko; “NCAA and the Coast is a quality background and if you tick the boxes of what you want from a D-man, Sitko has got it all as far as we’re concerned. He has a great hockey brain, he can skate and pass, he’s got a ripper of a shot and as anyone who saw him last season will remember, he hits like a rhino,” Cahill said “On the personal side, he possesses a great team attitude and I know we hated playing against him last year. He will just have turned 26 by the time the season starts so that makes him a positive veteran for the new Raiders Jon is a great signing and just what we needed to finish the jigsaw.”
Romford’s new General Manager, John Scott, added: “We’re really excited with the squad that Jesse has put together and now can’t wait to get the team on the ice, there are a lot of new faces this year and while training together gets you started, there’s nothing like a game environment, so the challenge matches against Milton Keynes Lightning on September 12 and 13 can’t come fast enough,” Scott said Contact the author at Dave.lambert@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.