Catch up with the latest signings from up and down the country as new season start to loom into view.
Elite League
Starting at the top flight and there are some teams really finding their rhythm with their rosters, as more and more names are added.
Belfast Giants brought netminder Jackson Whistle back on the club, returning after three years at Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers. The club also confirmed the return of back-up Andrew Dickson as well.
Steelers kept their recruitment drive going when they announced the signing Czech forward Martin Latal from HC Litvinov, as well as returns for Brit defencemen Sam Jones and Davey Phillips.
Coventry Blaze confirmed signings of netminder CJ Motte and Canadian forward Johnny Curran, two members of their team rom the aborted 19/20 campaign, while Dundee Stars bought in new defenceman Kyle Haas.
Guildford Flames made two additions as Swedish D-man Jesper Alasaari joined them, as well as netminder Adam Long, previously of Manchester Storm and more recently, a member of Haringey Huskies’ roster.
Only Fife Flyers and Glasgow Clan have yet to announce player signings yet from the Elite League.
✍️ 🐲🏒🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/HKJcM6ZaQN
— Coventry Blaze 🐲🏒 (@covblazehockey) July 16, 2021
NIHL National League
Rosters are starting to take shape in the National League and with the news that Hull Pirates won’t be competing this season, expect more names to crop up.
Bees were the busiest, er, bees in the last week, announcing four players on their roster for next season, all of whom were retained from before.
Netminder Adam Goss, defensive duo Harvey Stead and Stuart Mogg and forward Ryan Webb all pledged themselves to Doug Sheppard’s side for another campaign.
Leaving the Bees though is Zack Milton, who has opted to join Basingstoke Bison under their player-coach Ashley Tait.
One man who has broke away from the Herd is Sean Norris, who has left to join Milton Keynes Lightning.
Elsewhere, Raiders brought back defensemen Callum Wells and Sean Barry, while Telford Tigers welcomed back D-man Nick Oliver and experienced veteran Rick Plant.
Bailey Hind-Pitcher was the one other deal involving the National League sides, where he joined Swindon Wildcats from Okanagan Hockey Academy and he’s immediately joined Bristol Pitbulls in a two-way contract.
Bees captain Stuart Mogg is back for Doug Sheppard’s men (PHOTO: Kevin Slyfield)
NIHL 1
There were plenty of signings and extensions announced across NIHL 1, with lots of activities from certainly clubs in the last week.
Blackburn Hawks added one and retained one as defenceman Ethan Mayoh made the switch from Oxford City Stars while forwards Lee Pollitt and James Riddoch stayed on for another season.
Widnes Wild did the same as Joe Greaves left the Hawks to take up an opportunity at the Wild, with Richard Haggar’s men also confirming the retention of Jay Robinson.
Solihull Barons picked forward duo Matthew Maurice and Andrew Whitehouse, while Bristol Pitbulls announced they had signed Welsh defenceman Joe Morris.
Another defenceman, Daniel Fay, also made a move, switching Bees for Raiders 2 next season.
NIHL 2
Only move of note over the last week as forward Daniel Clayton has joined Streatham, returning to the team he left in 2016. Clayton last played for Invicta Dynamos in 2019/20 season.
