After ending last season with the second-lowest number of goals conceded in the entire English Premier League, Milton Keynes Lightning are delighted that netminders Barry Hollyhead and Alex Mettam are returning to the Thunderdome for the new season, both players citing the club’s ambition and indomitable team spirit as a key factor in their decisions.

Shrewsbury-born Barry said the team spirit at Lightning helps the club retain its key players, despite the financial incentives on offer elsewhere.  "Milton Keynes has been my home-from-home for seven of the last nine seasons.  The team spirit here means a lot, we all work for each other and we're always in with a good chance of winning trophies - and we've proved that ever since the EPL was formed.  It'll be great to work with Mettzy again this year; he's proved in the last two seasons how capable he is, and between us we give Lightning a mix of youth and experience!"

Alex said, "I've had two really enjoyable seasons here which makes it an easy decision to stay.  The atmosphere within the team is great, which makes playing here a lot of fun and hopefully that shows in our performances.  This year we want to get back to winning silverware for the supporters, and I'll be doing everything I can to make that happen."

Head Coach Nick Poole said, “We’re delighted to bring both Barry and Alex back for next season as we feel they’re the best netminding duo in the league – they’ve always been close to or at the top of the statistical charts and the players have 100% confidence in both of them.

“Barry’s been a real rock for us over the years and always delivers in big games. It was a tough call for Barry on where to play this coming season but we’re thrilled he chose to continue with the Lightning. He’s also keen to continue helping Alex's development, with a view to him becoming first choice keeper at some point in the future.

“Alex has been a revelation over the past two seasons  - he’s the best trainer we have on the team as he constantly pushes himself and his team mates to be the best. Over the last two years we’ve given him more and more big games, and he’s never let us down.  This season he’ll work in partnership with Barry and we’ll continue to give him more big games as we work towards him becoming first choice netminder”.

Barry Hollyhead, 36, first signed for Lightning in 2002 after five seasons at Telford Tigers and spells in Lancashire, Solihull and Coventry.  After two seasons in Milton Keynes he returned to Telford, but he returned to the Thunderdome in 2006; Barry has now played over 330 games for Lightning including 33 play-off fixtures.  In the 2000-01 season Barry was in the Team GB senior roster for that year’s world championships.

Alex Mettam, 23, came up through the ice hockey ranks in his native Sheffield and also played for Team GB before moving to Guildford in 2007.  Two successful seasons with the Flames brought him to Nick Poole’s attention, and Alex signed for Milton Keynes in 2009 - his maiden season seeing the Lightning take the EPL title.