NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Whitley Warriors have today announced the re-signing of long-serving forward DJ Good and the return of defenceman Lawson Glasby. Heading into his thirteenth consecutive season for the Hillheads outfit, Good made his first appearance for the Warriors in 1999 and went on to feature for the side for a further four seasons, dividing his time between Whitley’s senior team and their junior setup before moving away to study. Making the switch to the SNL to play for Edinburgh Capitals for three years as a result, Good returned to Whitley in 2006 and has been one of the team’s most skilled forwards ever since, tallying over forty points for the Warriors during their 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns whilst fulfilling leadership roles at the club. Having notched seventeen points in thirty one games last season, Good will build on his contribution to Whitley’s offensive efforts during his upcoming campaign and will undoubtedly trouble opposition with his skill once again.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia – Ian Hanlon

By comparison, ‘D’ man Glasby returns to Whitley Warriors after studying in America last season. Playing for Clarkson University in Division Two of the American Collegiate Hockey Association during his time in the United States, Glasby notched four assists in thirteen games whilst gaining valuable ice time to build his experience in the sport. Looking to slot back into Whitley’s roster, Glasby will be faced with a very different NIHL North in September, having yet to play in the league since recent changes in British ice hockey.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Meanwhile, Billingham Stars have confirmed that blue liner Ben Davison will return for an eighth consecutive season on Teesside having chipped in with three goals and six assists in thirty league games for the club last season. After starting out with Billingham’s junior setup, Davison made two appearances with the Bombers during their 2006-07 season before embarking on his first senior campaign for the Teesside outfit two seasons later. Like many of Billingham’s players who wanted to continue to play ice hockey during the refurbishment of The Forum, Davison featured for Whitley Warriors but found that he was able to gain more ice time with the Braves in England’s Under 18s league. A move to the Northern Stars in the season that followed allowed the ‘D’ man to ice on a more regular basis in the ENL and it was after this campaign that he was able to return to The Forum where he has played ever since. A reliable and consistent member of Billingham’s defensive unit, Davison will surely shine again for the side when he takes to the ice next month.  

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NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

Billingham Stars have again added to their roster with the re-signing of defenceman Andy Finn and netminder James Flavell.

Set for an eighth consecutive season on Billingham’s blue line, ‘D’ man Finn missed out on much of the Stars’ 2017-18 campaign due to work commitments but he was still able to chip in with two goals and six assists in eighteen league games last season to support his team’s offensive efforts. Having first played ice hockey in Billingham, Finn went on to enjoy three seasons with Sheffield’s junior setup before playing a season with Swindon Wildcats in the EPL. Finn then returned to the North East to play for the Northern Stars prior to their merger with Billingham and he has remained on Teesside ever since. As one of the team’s most experienced players, Finn is another strong addition to Billingham’s roster and he will surely look to contribute as much as he possibly can when the season gets underway in September. 

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Likewise, netminder Flavell will also prepare for an eighth successive campaign with the Stars after recording a save percentage of 88% over the course of twenty three league games during a difficult season for the Teessiders. Flavell made his debut for the Bombers during their 2004-05 campaign and remained with the club for a further three seasons before switching to local rivals Whitley Warriors in 2009 during the refurbishment of The Forum. Contributing to the Warriors’ back-to-back title wins, Flavell then returned to his hometown club to find himself crowned an ENL champion for a third consecutive season. Achieving a save percentage of over 90% for four consecutive campaigns prior to the Stars most recent outing in NIHL North, and accomplishing the best save percentage in the league during Billingham’s 2014-15 campaign, Flavell is undoubtedly one of the best netminders in Division One and his return will be certainly be welcomed by all those at the club.

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NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

Billingham Stars have today added a second import to their roster with the signing of twenty-one-year-old Lithuanian defenceman Edgar Protčenko who joins the Teesside club from the Alps Hockey League after icing with Kitzbüheler EC in his previous outing. Having started out with Vilnius’ Under 16s team in 2010, Protčenko then made the switch to Iserlohner Under 18s in Germany’s Jugend-BL where he tallied twenty one points in twenty three league games. A season with Zalgiris Vilnius in the MHL B was then followed by a campaign in Canada’s GMHL with South Muskoka Shield during their 2015-16 season in which the blue liner achieved sixteen goals and twenty four assists in thirty three games. Playing for Energija Elektrenai prior to signing with Kitzbüheler EC, Protčenko divided his time between the side’s first and second teams, tallying a total of twenty one points in forty league games for the two outfits. In addition to this, Protčenko has also featured on fifty occasions for Lithuania so far, tallying nine goals and twenty two assists since he first iced for Lithuania’s Under 18s team in his 2011-12 campaign. In consequence, Billingham will hope that Protčenko will contribute to his team’s offensive efforts as well as being a strong addition to their blue line when he makes his debut with the Teesside outfit in September.

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NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

Solway Sharks have today confirmed the signing of former Elite League left winger Cale Tanaka as the Dumfries outfit show much ambition ahead of their 2018-19 campaign in their quest for silverware. Starting out with hometown club Stouffville Spirit in Canada’s OPJHL in 2002, Tanaka played two seasons with the side before icing with Aurora Tigers in 2004. Also remaining with the Tigers for two seasons, Tanaka then switched to the NCAA with the University of Alabama-Huntsville before spells with Montpellier in France 2 and the Dundas Real McCoys in the ACH. After playing for Dundas, Tanaka made the move to the Elite League to ice for Hull Stingrays where he featured in thirty one games, tallying three goals and five assists in that time. Three seasons with Coventry Blaze then followed his debut campaign in the EIHL and Tanaka was able to shine for the club, tallying a total of eighty six points over the course of one hundred and fifty two league games for the outfit. Prior to icing with the Clan last season, the left winger played for Dundee Stars, accumulating eleven goals and twenty one assists in forty seven league games. Having played at the highest level of the sport in Britain, Tanaka will pose a real offensive threat for the Sharks who prepare to set their sights on one of the top spots in Division One.  

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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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NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

It has today been announced that Billingham Stars have signed Canadian forward Kevin Boyd who has made the move from Stayner Siskins alongside Head Coach Tom Brown. Playing ice hockey in the USHS-prep with Hoosac School during their 2013-14 season, Boyd then went on to ice with Ottawa Canadians in the EOJHL as well as featuring for Brampton Bombers and Kanata Lasers in the same season. Signing for Niagara Falls Canucks in 2015, Boyd tallied four goals and seven assists in thirty eight games before making the move to the Siskins. Accumulating forty four points in thirty nine games in his first season at the club, Boyd has since fulfilled the role of alternate captain, scoring twenty four goals and notching a further forty six assists to finish his most recent campaign as Stayner’s fourth highest points scorer. As a new addition to Billingham, Boyd will look to exhibit his skill when he takes to the ice with his new team in September.

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Meanwhile, Solway Sharks have confirmed the re-signing of consistent blue liner Stuart Kerr who featured in thirty four league fixtures for the Dumfries outfit last season. With this his fifth campaign at Solway, Kerr’s ability does not go unnoticed, having previously featured for Braehead Clan in the Elite League and both Team GB’s Under 18s and Under 20s sides in recent seasons. Chipping in with a goal and six assists further to being a calm and composed member of the Sharks’ defensive unit, Kerr will continue to bring consistency to Solway’s blue line as he develops his game further with the guidance of Head Coach Martin Grubb. Joining fellow defencemen Josh Grieveson and Lewis Baldwin on Solway’s roster, Kerr will once again show himself to be a reliable and resolute presence on the ice.   

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NIHL Signing News

NIHL News

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Ian Hanlon

Solway Sharks have today confirmed that forward Connor Henderson (pictured left) will be returning to play a third consecutive season with the club. Accomplishing forty two points over the course of thirty two league games to find himself Solway’s second highest points scorer last season, Henderson is a skilful and creative forward as indicated by the thirty assists he tallied in his most recent outing. Having started out with Solway Sharks’ junior setup, Henderson went on to ice with the Maroon Mavericks in the OEMHL and West Michigan Wolves in the NA3HL where he was able to gain valuable ice time before his return to Solway in 2016. Achieving silverware success with the Dumfries outfit during their 2016-17 campaign, Henderson will now work alongside his teammates as the Sharks prepare to build on last season’s fourth place finish. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Likewise, Whitley Warriors have confirmed the return of forwards Dean Holland and Ben Richards for their 2018-19 campaign. As one of the most experienced players on Whitley’s roster, having previously played in the Elite League with Newcastle Vipers and Dundee Stars, as well as icing in the EPL with Manchester Phoenix, Telford Tigers and Guildford Flames, Holland has fulfilled the role of captain for the Warriors over the last two seasons, finishing as his team’s third highest points scorer with thirty nine points from thirty three league games in his most recent campaign. A strong forward with a skill for finding the back of the net, Holland is an asset to his team and will undoubtedly demonstrate this when the season gets underway. Meanwhile, Richards will prepare to take to the ice for a seventh successive campaign with Whitley, having worked incredibly hard last season. Despite missing out on some fixtures due to work commitments, Richards was the Warriors’ fifth highest points scorer after tallying fourteen goals and seventeen assists in twenty eight league games last season. Bringing skill and pace to Whitley’s line-up, Richards proved a real offensive threat and will once again look to make an impact for his team when he heads out onto the ice for the Warriors in September.

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

Last but not least, Billingham Stars have re-signed Callum Davies for an eighth consecutive campaign, the forward making his return after notching twenty eight points in twenty six league games for the Teesside club last season. Having started out with Sunderland Arrows before switching to Newcastle Vipers’ junior setup, Davies then played for the Northern Stars prior to the side’s merger with Billingham in 2011. Fulfilling the role of alternate captain for much of his time at the club, Davies is another excellent acquisition for the Stars as they continue to reassemble the core of last season’s roster and he will no doubt show his worth once more when he lines up with Billingham again this coming season. 

Photo Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson

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