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Storm On The Horizon As Lightning Strike Twice |
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The Milton Keynes Lightning are pleased to announce four signings to the squad for the upcoming season. We have added a third import along with the re-signing of one of the EPL's top British defenders and two of MK's juniors have been promoted through the ranks.
Ales Parez comes to us after playing last season with the Manchester Phoenix in the Elite Hockey League. Although Ales suffered a shoulder injury (which has now completely healed) he still managed to notch up over a point a game for the Phoenix (29 pts in 26 games). The 6'3" Czech center will provide us with further fire power up front and will also add more size and considerable skill to our line-up. Ales is a good skater with excellent hands and vision and his signing makes our offence look very potent.
Nick on his latest import capture, 'I am thrilled to bits to be bringing Ales in to our team for next season. He will give us a dimension that we have lacked over the years. We have always been a skating team and usually dominated games through possession and shots but often lacked end product. Ales and our other new import signing Toni have immediately rectified this giving us both size and more importantly skill up front. In the past our offence has always come from one or two places, this coming season it will come from the entire forward lineup. I know Ales is very pleased to be back playing in Britain and is very excited about becoming a big part of our organization.
Chris McEwen (Macca) is back for a fifth year with the Lightning. Macca, one of the best skaters in the English Premier League will be back in his number 21 shirt and is looking to have his best year to date. Macca has had to combine school with his play over the last few years and although at times being a stand-out player has also at times (understandably) struggled. He is a player that defends with speed and is a joy to watch when he takes the puck up the ice in full stride.
'Macca is a player that I will always want on my team', Poole said of his re-signing. 'His speed is such a weapon both defensively and offensively. He is never caught out of position as he is always able to recover. I know Macca is looking forward to being able to focus more on his game this year now that his studies are (finally) over. He is a great character to have about and I know the fans will love seeing Macca moving up the ice again this year in full flow'.
The Lightning are also pleased to announce that both Aidan Mahmud and Danny Chaplen will be members of the squad this coming season. Both will be given shirt numbers and will feature regularly with the team. Although both will also ice for the Thunder this season they will feature regularly in Lightning colours and will be looking to put pressure on some of the more senior players for places in the line-up.
Aidan has been a revelation the last few years with his great attitude and versatility on the ice. He can play both forward and defence and featured regularly in the MKL team late last season. He has slotted into the changing room very well and more importantly is keen to work hard in training and has thoroughly deserved every opportunity he has been given. Dan comes back to MK after spending a year out in Notre Dame playing for the Midget AA team. Dan is an offensively gifted player who has a natural eye for goal. He was his team's top scorer last season and I have no doubt that he can become a threat in the EPL with continued hard work.
Nick on his two prospects, 'Both Aidan and Danny have worked very hard at there respective games and thoroughly deserve this opportunity. They are both talented players with great attitudes and most importantly keen to continue developing. Both are also very aware that they must continue to work hard and that nothing they get will come easily. At the end of the day it will be up to them, but I am very confident both players will have important roles to play in our success this coming year'.
"We are also pleased to announce that our ticket prices have been released for the 2007/8 season and can be found on the Tickets page of the official website. We have tried to keep ticket prices as low as possible whilst still allowing us to provide a competitive team on the ice and a pricing structure that fits in with the league in general.
This years Season Tickets will not include any Cup or Friendlies and so cover the 20 League games of the Season, Season ticket application forms can be downloaded from our tickets page and we would urge you to do so sooner rather than later so we are able to reserve your preferred seat.
We are planning a "Meet the Players Evening" for late August where fans will be able to collect their Season Tickets. "
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