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Lightning Strike Early In the Close Season |
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Just a short time into the close season the Milton Keynes Lightning are very pleased to announce the return of 8 players from last season’s English National Premier League winning side. As it is only a couple of weeks into the off season it shows the commitment of both player and team to defend the League title next year.
Our starting point for the new season began with the confirmation that influential Player Coach Nick Poole will spearhead the Lightning’s march for silverware in the 2010/11 campaign. In his eight seasons with the club, Nick Poole, who is considered by many as one of the best Coaches in the British game has successfully bagged a number of trophies including most recently the League title in the 2009/2010. His coaching skills are shared with his on-ice endeavours which make his achievements in the game all the more commendable.
Leading the way is Captain Adam Carr who went from strength to strength in his first season as club captain. The all-rounder usually found himself matched up against the opponent’s top line and seldom came out second best. Adam scored a career high in goals (31) and points and will be looking to better that next season. Coach Poole on Adam’s return, “Carrsy has been a fantastic leader and is the focal point of what is a very talented British core. He plays both ends of the ice as well as any player in the league and is always willing to forego his own personnel statistics for the success of the team. I feel he is up there with the best all round players in the country at the moment. I am thrilled that he got to lift a trophy this season and I know he will do everything in his power to help the club lift another next season”.
Lukas Zatopek, a first team EPL all-star is also returning for a third year in the gold and black. Lukas has been a revelation in his first two seasons’s in MK and is quickly becoming a cult hero with his outstanding defensive play and his blistering slap shot. He was the figurehead in what was the league’s stingiest defences and we are thrilled to have him patrolling our blue line once again next season. Nick on Lukas, “We built our team defence around Lukas last season and we will be doing the same again next year. Although I have never played a competitive game against Lukas I know what it is like to train against him twice a week. I could count on one hand the amount of times he has got beat on a one on one in the last two years. His slap shot is a great asset to us on the power play and every time he steps on the ice he provides us with a calming influence. We are very pleased to have him back for another year”.
Home grown talent and also a first team EPL all-star Leigh Jamieson returns for a second consecutive season with the Lightning. Leigh was a dominant force in the EPL last year providing us with both strength and skill. He made some bone-crunching hits, dropped the gloves, and scored some breathtaking goals in what was a great first season back after 5 years away. Nick on Jamo’s signature, “Jamo is a tremendous hockey talent and we are very thrilled to have him back in MK for what we hope is a long time. It perhaps took him a month or two to get used to the way the game is played in the EPL, but once he found his feet he was a force to be reckoned with. I don’t think there is a better defenseman in the league than Jamo at rushing the puck when he is in full flight. I believe next season he will start at full speed and will be even more dominant. He is a great character to have in the dressing room and has provided us with leadership and a fair few comedy moments….”
Scottish defender Lewis Christie has also put pen to paper for a third campaign with the Lightning. The youngster has been brilliant this past season and plays well beyond his years as he is usually assigned the opposition’s top line. Lewis also added some offensive punch this season scoring some timely goals and rushing forward more using his great speed. GM Vito Rausa on Lewis Christie, “Signing Lewis was a priority as we believe in Lewis we have the top British defender in his age group. He is a mature player for someone so young and a player many junior players can learn from. His positional play is outstanding and he always manages to keep a cool head on the ice. He got a taste for scoring some goals this past year and we feel he will be a big contributor next season. Not only is he a great player but a great young lad who we are proud to have associated with the club.”
Michael Farn returns for a second season after a very impressive debut year for the black and gold. Farny has been a real gem and improved week on week for us this past year. He seldom makes mistakes and is a 100% effort player that has an eye for a good pass. Perhaps the most telling sign of how key Farny was for us last year was how we fared when he was absent. Poole on Michael’s return, “When I brought Farny in last year I knew we were bringing in a good player but he has surpassed expectations. He is a great lad and has really impressed us with his play, attitude and desire to win. We really missed him the last few weeks of the season and I know it gutted him not to be able to play down the playoff stretch. He will be a key player for us next season and I know he will be key for us if we are to have the success that both he and the team crave”.
Adam Brittle is back for a second year after impressing with his energy, talent and skating ability. Adam is a player that we have admired for several seasons in MK and were thrilled to capture last summer. His high skill level and skating ability fit in very well with the way we aspire to play in MK. Vito on Brittle’s return, “Brittsy has been a real fan favourite this past season and has impressed weekly with his work rate and skill level. It has probably taken him longer than most to adapt to our game as he has normally played with more freedom in the past. However, this past season has been the first taste of success for Adam and we know he is desperate for more trophies and more wins. We believe with a year under Adam’s belt we will see an even better player next year and one that continues to catch our supporters’ attention”.
Assistant captain Matty Towalski is back for his sixth season with the Lightning. Matty is a big part of the Lightning’s engine room as he never stops working. Although asked to play a more defensive role, Matty always chips in with timely goals and is part of our teams best forechecking units. He is a real leader in the changing room and we are very pleased to have him back in the team for another year. Poole on Matty’s return, “Matty is one of our team’s most versatile players, as he can be used in all positions up front and in every situation. He has a great engine and is a very strong skater. I always think of Matty as the heartbeat of our team and when he is playing well I know we are in a strong position to win games. He is a very determined and competitive individual and one I trust at all times on the ice”. |
