BASINGSTOKE,U.K-The Elite league Basingstoke Bison have added two more players to their growing Herd for the coming season, with the signing of top British forward Mark Richardson and American defenseman Curtiss Patrick.
Born in Swindon in the UK, Richardson is set to be a centre man on one of the top two Bison lines and with the club set to sign six import forwards that would mean one would be able to ice on the third line giving the team that much more depth.
The latest British born signing learned his hockey with his home town team, and during that time in 2002-03 season he made his one and only previous appearance in a Bison shirt in the now-defunct British National League.
Photo courtesy of www.echl.com
The 21-year-old has spent the last three years in the Elite League winning a trophy every season with the Cardiff Devils and later at the Nottingham Panthers.
In his last campaign in the Lace City, if not for injury Richardson would have ended it as the Panthers top scoring Brit. He finished the season in fine form scoring four goals in his last eight games, two of which were against the Bison
Basingstoke head coach Ryan Aldridge also hails from Swindon and has seen the young forward develop into one of the top home grown forwards.
“I saw him play in the play-off game in Cardiff for Nottingham at the end of last season and he was one of their best players, he is not afraid to get in on the wall and get the puck out,” Aldridge said “He had a tough season last year and now wants to prove to people what he can do, he is a true professional on and off the ice the first one on at training and the last man off.”
Richardson is excited about the up coming season as he looks to regain his place in the Team Great Britain senior team which he held in 2007.
“I want this to be my break out year points wise and I am sure I can do that with the Bison,” Richardson said “I guess ever year Basingstoke are written off, but Aldy(Aldridge) is building a hard working team and I think we will surprise a few people this season.”
The Bison’s first import defenseman for the coming campaign is a man with an outstanding family hockey pedigree in Curtiss Patrick.
He is the son of Glenn Patrick who was his coach during his spell in the ECHL at the Wheeling Nailers and briefly played in the NHL.
His grandfather was Lynn Patrick who played in the show winning the Stanley Cup in 1940. He went onto coach the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins.
A further generation back is Lester Patrick who played in the 1928 Stanley Cup finals for the New York Rangers at the grand age of 44. He was General manager and coach at the time and put himself into the line-up for his injured netminder and back stopped them to an overtime win over the Montreal Maroons, eventually they went on to win the crown.
Patrick missed out on the chance to play in the NHL, but in the past two years has been called up twice to the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 10 games scoring two assists and last season appeared in a single game for Springfield Falcons.
During that time he played for the Nailers and bagged just 24 points in four years which is no surprise for the stay-at-home defenseman. His career high points year was in 2005-06 with three goals and eight assists and also scored once in the post season.
Before turning pro, the 28-year-old who hails from Hampton, Virginia (USA) won three ACHA Championships with the Penn State and this will be his first experience of hockey outside of the North America.
“Last year he missed a chunk of the season due to an hand injury but is fully recovered now, he is a player who spent four years at the same club and is that is something I like in a player it shows loyalty and he is a real team player,” Aldridge said
“Curtiss is a physical and someone who can look after himself and if he needs to will fight.” Contact the author at Graham.merry@prohockeynews.com
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