NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Solihull Barons have re-signed forwards Andy Whitehouse, Brandon Anderton and Matt Maurice this week alongside versatile Slovakian right winger Tomas Janak. Whilst long-serving forward Whitehouse returns for his seventh consecutive season at the club on the back of achieving eighteen points in twenty eight games, both juniors Anderton and Maurice are heading into their third term at the club. Anderton tallied one assist in eleven games in his latest campaign and will hope to gain ice time as he looks to develop his game further whereas Maurice shone for Solihull last season, racking up an impressive sixteen goals and twelve assists in twenty seven games to round off his campaign as the Barons’ fifth highest points scorer. Also returning is Janak who fulfilled the role of captain last season, offering his experience, skill and leadership whilst averaging close to a point per game.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Besides these signings, the Barons have also announced that forward Ed Eaton and defenceman Richard Crowe have committed to another season at Hobs Moat Road whilst former Hawk Philip Mulcahy has made the switch from Blackburn to make his debut with Solihull this September. Whilst Eaton has proved to be an exceptionally hardworking player in recent seasons, injury woes prevented the forward from icing with the Barons for much of their 2016-17 campaign as he managed just fifteen league games out of a possible twenty eight. Following the Barons’ promotion to the Moralee Conference in 2015, Eaton was able to rack up fifteen goals and twenty five assists to become one of the side’s top points scorers. As a result, he will be hoping to make a return to this good form when he links up with the side again next season.  Also, ‘D’ man Crowe is set for his seventh consecutive season at the club, having started out as a product of Solihull’s junior setup. An unassuming defenceman, Crowe works tirelessly on the Barons’ blue line whilst contributing to his team’s offensive play where possible and will look to continue this consistency when he ices again in September. Further to these re-signings, Solihull have added skilled forward Mulcahy to their roster who joins on the back of a difficult season with Blackburn Hawks. Earning twenty three points in twenty seven games, Mulcahy bettered his points production of his 2015-16 campaign to impress for a second consecutive season in the NIHL’s Division One. A standout player for the Hawks last season, Mulcahy combines his skill with pace to cause problems for his opposition. As such, Solihull have added another strong cohort to their roster, though the side have also announced that forward Richard Slater will no longer be signing for the club after moving to Nottingham due to work commitments.

Meanwhile, Telford Tigers’ Division One side have acquired the services of young prospect Jordan Stokes, former Baron Dale White and experienced EPL forward Rick Plant. Joining the Tigers on a two-way contract with Elite League outfit Coventry Blaze, defenceman Stokes will look to build on the experience he gained last season. Though featuring in just four games for the Blaze, Stokes iced on fifty one occasions with the EPL’s Hull Pirates and will no doubt be able to build on this achievement when he makes his return to the NIHL in September. Also, after playing the most part of his 2016-17 campaign with Solihull Barons, White will return to the Tigers’ roster after icing in six games for the side last season. Having played in both the EPL and the Elite League as well as the lower tiers of British Ice Hockey, White’s versatility and experience will stand him in good stead for Telford’s upcoming campaign as the side prepare to compete for the best possible league position in the NIHL. Another important signing for the Tigers is experienced forward Plant who heads into his fifth consecutive season with the Shropshire outfit. After mostly playing in the higher tiers of British Ice Hockey, Plant’s career consists of thirteen campaigns in the EPL besides seven seasons in the BNL. Last season alone, Plant contributed sixteen goals and thirty four assists in the fifty one games he featured; as such, averaging close to a point per game. A strong, reliable player, Plant is another valuable addition to Telford’s roster and will now focus on making his NIHL debut next season.

In contrast, forward Warren Tait has switched from the Tigers to make his return to Nottingham Lions’ squad, having played for the side in NIHL 2 three seasons ago. Over the course of his career, Tait has iced with five different Elite League teams, including Sheffield Steelers, Cardiff Devils and Basingstoke Bison, and therefore possesses a great deal of experience which will be vital next season when the Lions make the step up into NIHL North’s Division One.  

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