BASINGSTOKE, UK: The Bison have signed British forward Ryan Watt to help them defend their EPL play-off crown.
With currently three players out of their line-up due to injury – two of which are defenceman. Bison boss Doug Sheppard has acted so he can reshuffle his line-up and move forward Michael Wales back to the blue line.
Watt, who has had short spells at the club in the past when they were in the Elite 
League will make his Herd EPL debut against the Milton Keynes Lightning on Saturday.
The 25-year-old who lives just outside the town is sure to make an immediate impact with his gritty style of play.
The Scottish-born forward grew up in the town and played for all the Basingstoke junior teams, before making his EPL debut in Bracknell’s championship winning side of 2006/07.
He has since be part of three play-off winning teams, the last two being with the Slough Jets where he enjoyed a career high of 50 points in 2011/12.
An injury hit season in the Elite League with Braehead Clan followed a year with Swindon Wildcats and he joins after being released by Bracknell just before Christmas.
“I have coached Ryan before, when we won the play-offs at Slough and know what it brings to the team,” said Bison boss Doug Sheppard.
The addition of Watt will certainly add some more firepower to the Herd as they look to continue their good start to 2015, which has seen them win their last three games in Basingstoke.
They will look for win number four against Milton Keynes in what is a homer series so far, with the Lightning leading 2-1 at present.
Then on Sunday the Herd travel to Sheffield to face the Steeldogs where the Herd lost 7-4 on their last visit.
Contact the author Graham.Merry@Prohockeynews.
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