Guildford Flames have secured the services of American defender Mike Ratchuk.

The 29-year-old played last season in the Elite League for Sheffield Steelers, having previously spent the bulk of his career in the AHL and ECHL in North America.

He was selected in the 2nd round, 42nd overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2006 NHL entry draft.

Flames’ boss Paul Dixon said: “Mike’s playing résumé speaks for itself in terms of the quality of player we are getting.

“The thing you don’t see, that you pick up only by speaking to him, is his clear desire to really be an impactful player that wants a lot of responsibility for how we get on from night to night.

“We are excited to have Mike join us for our first work in the top flight, and we are really looking forward to helping him settle in Guildford for the upcoming season.”

Ratchuk scored eight goals with 13 assists in 45 games for the Steelers during the 2016/17 campaign.

(Image permission: Dean Woolley)