NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

Billingham Stars have this evening announced the signing of Latvian defenceman Artūrs Ozols who joins the Teesside club from Latvian outfit Zemgale where he made his senior debut during his 2012-13 campaign. Remaining here for a second season whilst breaking through the ranks of Jelgava’s Under 20s team, Ozols then switched to Liepaja, playing twenty games for their senior side and averaging a point per game for the club’s junior outfit. More recently, a season with Virkiä in Finland’s II-Divisioona was then followed by a third spell in Latvia’s top division with Zemgale where Ozols picked up twelve points in twenty three games. A towering defenceman at six foot three, Ozols is expected to be dependable in defence and will no doubt demonstrate this when he takes to the ice with the Stars next season. This news follows the Stars’ confirmation that Swedish imports Dennis Boström and Daniel Palmebjörk will not be returning to play for Billingham next season.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Meanwhile, Solihull Barons have completed their roster this week with the signings of forwards Luke Brittle, Stephen Heape, netminder Daniel Brittle and defenceman Jacob Smith. Joining the Barons from Telford Tigers, Brittle brothers Luke and Daniel will hope to make a positive impact at Hobs Moat Road next season. Whilst both started out in Telford’s junior setup, Luke Brittle progressed to play for the Tigers’ EPL team before icing with Chelmsford Chieftains, Blackburn Hawks and Spanish side S.A.D. Majadahonda. Contributing twenty six points in twenty two games last season, Brittle is a highly skilled player and will no doubt facilitate Solihull’s offensive play when he links up with Head Coach Daniel MacKriel at his new club in September. Likewise, Daniel Brittle will also join up with the Barons, having already followed MacKriel from Blackburn Hawks to Telford Tigers last season. A strong shot stopper, Brittle achieved a save percentage of 89.1% in what was a difficult campaign for the Shropshire outfit who were battling relegation with a depleted defence on occasions. Two excellent additions to MacKriel’s roster, these players will also be joined by forward Heape, who will hope to avoid further injury after finding himself sidelined for the most part of last season, and ‘D’ man Smith who heads into his third consecutive campaign with the Barons after patrolling the side’s blue line consistently in his latest outing at Hobs Moat Road.

Last but not least, Nottingham Lions have confirmed the signing of forward Richard Slater who had originally agreed to a twelfth season with Solihull Barons before work commitments meant that continuing to play for the side would be difficult. Slater first iced for the Barons in the English Premier League in their 2005-06 campaign and, with the exception of two games for EPL outfit Peterborough Phantoms, has only played ice hockey for Solihull. Returning to the sport after a season out, Slater earned himself seventeen points from twenty four games in his latest term at the club but will now turn his attentions to facing the Barons when he ices for the Lions in September. Further to this news, Nottingham have also announced the re-signing of defenceman Luke Thomas who returns to play a tenth season with the Lions. Formerly the club’s captain from 2012 to 2016, Thomas brings both experience and leadership to Nottingham’s defence which will certainly prove valuable as his side makes the leap into the NIHL’s Division One. As one of the Lions’ longest serving players, Thomas’ commitment and consistency will be welcomed when he returns to Nottingham’s line-up in September. 

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