NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

As Whitley Warriors’ player-coach David Longstaff continues to add to his squad, it has today been announced that blue liner Josh Maddock and forward Ben Richards will remain at the club for another season. Preparing for his ninth campaign at Hillheads, Maddock continues to be one of the Warriors’ most reliable ‘D’ men, making life difficult for the opposition whilst contributing points where possible. The second defenceman to re-sign for the Warriors following Harry Harley’s commitment to the club, Maddock will aim to improve on the points production of his previous campaign whilst Longstaff and his men collectively set out to better last season’s fifth place finish. Also re-signing for the Warriors is forward Ben Richards who progressed through Whitley’s junior setup with the Tomahawks and the Braves to play his first senior game at the age of sixteen. Making a great impact for the Warriors from a young age, Richards has successfully contributed to Whitley’s offensive play over the years but work commitments saw the forward ice in just fourteen league games from a possible twenty eight in his most recent outing. As such, it is hoped that the talented forward is available to ice in the majority of Whitley’s fixtures over the course of their upcoming campaign, particularly as the competition in the NIHL will be tougher than ever before.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Ian Hanlon

In other news, Matt Viney has made his return to Blackburn Hawks this week, after switching from the Lancashire outfit to Telford Tigers last season. First joining the Hawks from Bradford Bulldogs in 2009, Viney played six seasons with Blackburn before being made alternate captain in the side’s 2015-16 campaign in which he scored eleven goals and twenty four assists. Following this excellent achievement, Viney then made the move to Telford’s NIHL team with several former Hawks last summer and was able to rack up thirty two points despite his side being in a relegation battle for the most part of their campaign. A welcome returnee for the Hawks, fans will hope for more of the same from Viney as he reprises his place in their roster. Also signing for Blackburn this week, ‘D’ man Bobby Streetly has committed to another season with the Hawks, having played twenty eight league games for the side in his previous term in which he tallied nine points and remained a consistent member of Steven Duncombe’s defence.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Ian Hanlon

Meanwhile, Sheffield Steeldogs have confirmed the re-signing of Slovakian winger Adrian Palak as player-coach Ben Morgan continues to assemble an extremely strong squad ahead of his side’s upcoming campaign. Experiencing the NIHL’s Laidler Conference in his 2015-16 season with The Dragons, Palak contributed an outstanding ninety six points in just twenty six games for the Welsh outfit but then made the leap into the EPL to play for the Steeldogs last September. Missing out on a large part of his previous campaign through injury, Palak will be eager to demonstrate his true potential when he ices with the Steeldogs again and will undoubtedly make life difficult for his opposition as he sets his sights on goal next season.

Last but not least, Dragons’ player-coach Scott McKenzie has secured the services of both defenceman Ryan Jones and forward Geoff Wigglesworth. Developing in the NIHL’s Laidler Conference with the Dragons until their promotion in 2016, blue liner Jones now enters his sixth season for his hometown club as the Deeside-based team prepare for the challenges awaiting them in September. By comparison, Wigglesworth played junior ice hockey with Altrincham Tigers between 2002 and 2003 but first experienced the NIHL over a decade later. Icing with Manchester Minotaurs, Widnes Wild and the Dragons since then, Wigglesworth has accumulated knowledge of the NIHL across both Divisions One and Two which should stand the forward in good stead when he returns to the Welsh line-up next season. 

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