NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

As Billingham Stars continue to strengthen their squad, the club have confirmed the signing of former Sheffield Steeldog Callum Pattison. Playing for Newcastle Vipers’ ENL team between 2005 and 2009, Pattison then went on to ice for Kingston Jets and the Northern Stars before making his debut with Whitley Warriors in 2011. Renowned for policing the game, Pattison accumulated eight hundred and thirty six penalty minutes over the course of four seasons with Sheffield Steeldogs and was unsurprisingly named the EPL’s most penalised player in his most recent campaign at the club. Sure to add some fire to Billingham’s line-up, Pattison is an interesting addition to the Stars’ roster and will certainly prove more than a match for the tough opposition in the NIHL next season.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Further to this signing news, Solihull Barons have strengthened their defence today with the re-signings of versatile blue liner Dave Rogers and youngster James Moeller, besides further adding experienced ‘D’ man Marcus Maynard and former Tiger Daniel Harrison to their roster. Entering his sixth season with the Barons, Rogers is a strong defenceman and is certainly not one to shy away from a fight. Tallying eight points and twenty four penalty minutes in twenty two games last season, the defenceman will continue to demonstrate his excellent work ethic and his strength on Solihull’s blue line in the hope that his team can compete to the same standard as last season. Also returning to the Barons’ line-up, young defenceman Moeller heads into his third senior season for the club as he continues to develop his game at this level. Whilst playing for the Barons in their most recent campaign, Moeller featured in fifteen games for the side and, despite failing to pick up his first point in the Moralee Conference, the youngster accomplished two goals and six assists when captaining Solihull’s Under 20s team last season. Signing up for Solihull’s 2017-18 campaign, Moeller will hope to build on the ice time gained in his previous outing as he continues to develop his game at Hobs Moat Road.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Meanwhile, proficient blue liner Maynard joins the Barons from EPL side Hull Pirates where he played forty nine games last season, tallying eight assists and seventy six penalty minutes during his stint at the club. Prior to this, Maynard played seven seasons for Nottingham Lions in the English National League whilst also enjoying a spell for the Panthers in the Elite League in his 2011-12 campaign. From here, he made the leap into the English Premier League to ice for Telford Tigers and, remaining here for four seasons, Maynard collected a total of twenty points in two hundred and six games for the Shropshire outfit. As such, the defenceman joins the Barons as a knowledgeable, experienced and dependable team player who will chip in with points where possible when not offering his leadership from the blue line. Also joining Solihull’s defensive unit is former Tiger Harrison who follows Head Coach Daniel MacKriel to Hobs Moat Road having previously played at the club in his 2014-15 campaign. Always hardworking, Harrison proved to be an excellent leader for the Tigers, fulfilling the role of alternate captain in what was a difficult season for Telford, not least due to their depleted defence. Harrison can now look forward to his upcoming season as he takes his place in Solihull’s growing line-up.

Last but not least, Sheffield Steeldogs have secured the services of young defenceman Jamie Scott who, born in Belfast, played some of his first senior ice hockey for Solway Sharks whilst also icing with Belfast Giants’ Under 20s team. Moving to Sheffield to feature for Sutton Sting and Sheffield Senators in the NIHL’s Moralee and Laidler Conferences last season, besides playing eleven games for Sheffield Scimitars in the Under 20s league, Scott’s composure, quick-thinking and desire to develop in the sport have allowed the young blue liner to gain the recognition he deserves and he will no doubt strive to demonstrate these attributes when he takes to the ice again in September.

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