NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Billingham Stars have added to their defence over the last two days with the re-signing of blue liners Thomas Keeley and Ross Hanlon. Heading into his fifth consecutive campaign with the Stars on the back of a season which saw him tally four assists in seventeen league games, Keeley is a strong defenceman who gained experience in both Canada’s OEMHL with the Maroon Mavericks and America’s USPHL with the Space Coast Hurricanes from 2010 to 2014. A sturdy ‘D’ man, Keeley will look to build on recent performances to ensure his side improve on last season’s eighth place finish. Joining Keeley on Billingham’s blue line is defenceman Hanlon who will prepare for a third successive season with the Stars having notched three assists in fourteen games after missing much of the 2017-18 campaign due to work commitments. Starting out with Sunderland Arrows prior to joining Newcastle Vipers’ junior setup in 2005, Hanlon was able to gain ice time in the ENL before making his EIHL debut during the Vipers’ 2008-09 campaign. Further to this, the defenceman also iced with Telford Tigers in the EPL and featured for local rivals Whitley Warriors during the side’s 2013-14 season. Bringing much experience to Billingham’s defence as a result, Hanlon will again look to contribute as much as he possibly can throughout the Stars’ upcoming campaign. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

By comparison, Whitley Warriors have added two strong forwards to their line-up as both Jordan Barnes and Martin Crammond return for another campaign at Hillheads. Preparing to play a tenth season with the Warriors, hardworking forward Barnes proved to be an excellent on-ice leader last season further to tallying fifteen goals and fourteen assists in thirty five league games. Demonstrating discipline in order to adapt to the challenging competition of NIHL North, Barnes was one of Whitley’s most influential forwards and proved impressive over the course of the season whilst fulfilling the role of alternate captain. Meanwhile, Crammond will now prepare for his fourteenth campaign as a Warrior after showing himself to be an incredibly versatile player last season when requested to play on the blue line by player-coach David Longstaff. Icing in twenty seven fixtures, Crammond chipped in with two goals and three assists as he adapted to his new role within the team and he will no doubt show himself to be a consistent member of Whitley’s roster once again when he takes to the ice in September.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

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