NIHL
News
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Making their long
awaited first signing of the summer, Solway Sharks have confirmed that last
season’s first choice shot stopper Calum Hepburn will return to Martin Grubb’s
roster after the young netminder was called upon last September, following an injury to fellow goaltender Kieran Hobbins. Recording
a save percentage of 94.5% in Solway’s title winning campaign, Hepburn was a key
component in the Sharks’ success and will now head into his second senior season after making a fantastic impact in his first outing with
the Dumfries outfit.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Meanwhile, leaving
Solway Sharks for Billingham Stars, young defenceman Darren Stattersfield has
returned to Teesside to play for his hometown club. After starting out with the
Northern Stars’ Under 16s team in 2010, Stattersfield attended the Okanagan Hockey Academy in the UK between 2012 and 2015. Subsequent to this experience, Stattersfield then travelled to Canada where he iced for the Coldwater Falcons and London Lakers in the GMHL besides featuring for Norwood Nemesis and Essa Stallions in the CPJHL. Making the switch to Solway Sharks in the latter stages of last season, Stattersfield proved to be a tricky defenceman and, extremely good at causing problems for his opposition, will no
doubt bring this element to his game when he makes his debut for the Stars in
September.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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In other news, Telford
Tigers have acquired the services of highly experienced GB defenceman and
three-time Elite League champion Jonathan Weaver. His career spanning twenty
eight seasons, Weaver started out with Sunderland Arrows’ Under 16s team in 1990
and progressed to ice with the Durham Wasps in the BHL. From here, Weaver moved
on to ice in the BISL for Newcastle Cobras, Manchester Storm and Ayr Scottish
Eagles between 1996 and 2002. After spells with Hull Thunder and Fife Flyers in
the BHL, Weaver made the switch to Newcastle Vipers and continued to play for
the team following the formation of the Elite League. After icing with Coventry
Blaze and Nottingham Panthers at the highest level of British Ice Hockey,
Weaver dropped down into the EPL in 2014 to play for Telford Tigers where he
has fulfilled the role alternate captain for the last three seasons. An
outstanding presence on the ice, Weaver tallied forty one points in thirty four
games in his last campaign and will no doubt be eager to pick up where he left
off in the NIHL next season.
Last but not least, The
Dragons have signed two-time French champion and right winger Mickaël Brodin who,
having so far played his whole career in France, first iced with Reims in 2000
where he remained until 2002 before moving to Amiens. After two seasons of
playing in the north of France, Brodin then switched to Dijon and subsequently
Caen prior to a move to Morzine-Avoriaz. Playing seven consecutive campaigns
and captaining the side for four seasons, Brodin halted his playing
career in 2014. Though missing out on the last three seasons of ice hockey,
Brodin is expected to bring skill to The Dragons, besides experience and
leadership, as he joins the Deeside-based club as player-assistant coach ahead
of the team’s 2017-18 campaign.
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