WELL, I said that I’d get this update quicker than the last one, but I’m pretty sure this one has taken me just as long! As a result I’m left with just as many signings to go through, so let’s get started.
Basingstoke have added four names for next season, three returnees and a new face. The new player is Callum Best, a youngster who did a solid enough job for Bracknell last season. The re-signing players are all a bit more spectacular though. Chris Wiggins returns, and he was one of the surprise packages in the EPL last season. Wiggins is huge, and his sheer size makes him a force on the ice, but he also has surprisingly good hands and is developing a scoring touch.
Wiggins goes for the big hit - Photo: Chris Callaghan
Joining him is Ondrej Lauko and Ollie Bronnimann. Lauko was the best goalscorer in the league last season by far, finishing with 63 goals in 56 games. I spoke to him earlier in the summer, and loves Basingstoke and the fans, and he always sounded like he wanted to come back. Bronnimann is also a very talented player, but he’s inconsistent and has a tendency to float through games. Despite this he’s still a good second line forward.
Slough are another team to announce the return of a couple of members from last year’s team. Paddy Ward returns, and that’s a big signing. Ward is a very accomplished British defenceman, and he was a big reason that Slough’s goals against was the second best in the EPL last season. Also returning is Michael Bowman. He’s not a flashy player but he works hard and he’s an important part of the Jets.
One player who won’t be returning to Slough is Peter Jasik. The Slovakian forward has moved back to Bracknell for the coming season. He can be a real impact player but has struggled a lot with injuries. If he can stay fit he could be a great signing for the Bees. With Cesky and Pinc on the top line, I guess Jasik will be playing on the second line, so his effectiveness could also depends on who he will he playing with. The Bees have also re-signed last season’s top British scorer, Nicky Watt. He developed good chemistry with Cesky and Pinc, and will be an important player for them again next season. Watt is joined by Shane Moore. He’s a solid young stay-at-home defenceman and is another good addition for Bracknell. They look to be building a hard-working team with a few standout players, and I think they will be a better team than last season.
One of the more interesting signings so far to me is that of Martin Clarkson by Telford. As he’s coming back from the States he is pretty much completely unknown. I think I remember reading that he would be the Tigers’ starting nettie,
Back to Bracknell: Peter Jasik - Photo: David Steadman
so it is a bit of a risk, especially with him being so young. I remember him being very highly rated though, so it could turn out to be a masterstroke.
The signing of Clarkson obviously meant that Barry Hollyhead would not be returning to Telford as was rumoured. It has since been announced that Hollyhead has re-signed with Champions Milton Keynes, along with fellow netminder Alex Mettam, as well as forwards Monir Kalgoum and Grant McPherson. Hollyhead was rock solid last season, and will be behind an equally impressive defence again next season, so you’d expect him to have another great year. Similarly Mettam is a very capable backup who performed very well when called upon last year. Kalgoum is also a great re-signing. He finished with over 100 points last season, and is perhaps the strongest player in the league on the puck and along the boards. MK’s final re-signing McPherson is a player that a lot of players and fans from other teams hate. He can be nasty and gets right in the face of the opposition, but the role that he plays is absolutely vital to his team. MK’s team so far is identical to last season’s, which obviously isn’t a bad thing, but I’ll be interested to see what (if any) tweaks they make with their last few roster spots.
A team to make two new import signings this week is Sheffield Scimitars. The first is defenceman Pavel Gomenyuk from Elite side Hull Stingrays. I think this is a really shrewd signing for the Scims. It is apparent that their team is being put together on a tiny budget, so it will probably contain a lot of youngsters again, and Gomenyuk could prove to be the senior, steadying influence they need at the back to guide the youngsters and hold the defence together. The second signing is Matej Kangyar. The young Slovakian represents the ultimate in unknown quantities, as he was scouted and picked up from Rec hockey. I highly doubt he’ll be a big impact player, but I will watch with interest to see how he
Duncombe in action for Sheffield - Photo: Chris Callaghan
manages the huge jump to the EPL.
A player that won’t be returning for the Scimitars is Steve Duncombe, who has signed for Peterborough. Apparently Sheffield just couldn’t afford to keep him on their budget, and their loss is definitely Peterborough’s gain. Duncombe is very solid and will tighten up the Phantoms defence. They have also re-signed young forward James Spurr, who is a very underrated player in my opinion. He has a lot of skill and works hard, and slots into whichever role or line he is needed on with minimum fuss.
Just a few signings to go now, and Manchester have re-signed a couple of important players for the coming season in Stephen Wallace and James Neil. Wallace joined them during last season from Sheffield and made a big impact. He has always had excellent skills with the puck, but was often criticised as being lazy while with the Scimitars. However, once at Manchester he worked as hard as any player on the ice and was a very effective player for them. James Neil is another hardworking, gritty player who showed versatility last season
Rempel returns for Guildford - Photo: David Steadman
when asked to fill in on defence. His enthusiasm on the ice is infectious, and he will do a good job on Manchester’s third line this season.
The final EPL signing for this update is Nathan Rempel, who returns to Guildford for a second season. Rempel improved as the season went on last year, and can be one of the best snipers in the league. If, as has been mooted by some fans, he is on a line with Longstaff and Towe next season, I think that line will do some serious damage.
In a quick look at the ENL, Romford are still yet to announce any players, but I think Danny Marshall will put a good team together. He’ll have to if the Raiders are to compete with the top teams. Invicta have made a cracking signing in Callum Fowler, and he’ll make a big impact if he can regain a bit of confidence after his injury last season. Chelmsford look very strong as well, as they have retained their best players from last season (Novak, Connolly, Hammond etc.) while adding quality players like Matt Turner and Tom Long.
That’s it for now. I really will try to get the next update out sooner, and I’ll get the team pages updated in the next couple of days. I guess I should alter the banner at some point too, replacing the Romford logo with Telford’s…how awkward!
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