Bison sign Rand for second year

The Basingstoke Bison have confirmed the re-signing of 26 year old Canadian forward Joe Rand for a second year in the English Premier League (EPL). He joins Player/Coach Doug Sheppard as the only other confirmed signing for the 2013-14 season.

Rand was somewhat of a revelation this past season, having made the jump to the EPL from the Wightlink Raiders of the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) South 1 division. The gritty forward scored 20 goals on his way to a 50 point haul for the season.

Joining the Herd from the Raiders Rand had “something to prove” with many a fan (both Bison and other) questioning his ability at a higher level than the NIHL. However he went on to prove his ability in abundance and claimed the Player’s Player and Supporters Player awards at the end of season party.

Rand began his junior hockey career playing in his home province of Ontario with the Hamilton Red Wings in 2002-03 and Vaughan Vipers in the Ontario Provisional Junior A League in 2003-04, as well as being called up to the OHL’s Toronto St. Michael’s Majors for two games. Rand played a season and a half in the OHL with Toronto before leaving to head back to University.

For the next 5 seasons Rand iced for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and was a consistent and well developed player; being named the team’s most improved player for the 06-07 season. In 2010-11 Rand made his first trip across the Atlantic and joined the Deggendorf Fire in the Oberliga Süd (south), the German 3^rd tier.

After his season in Germany, Rand was seletced by ex-Bison and Wightlink Player/Coach Jermey Cornish for the 2011-12 season; as the final import on their roster. Rand was one of the league’s most consistent and highest scorers during the season; having scored 47 goals and 46 assists for 93 points in 36 games. Rand finished the season as second highest scorer behind Invicta’s import Ryan Ellis.

For the past season with the Bison, Rand has been a well rounded third liner. However with their injury troubles during the season he has found himself being moved about depending on what lines Sheppard wanted to run with given the players at his disposal. That can sometimes lead to disruption in a players productivity and his ability to connect and gel with his linemates. But for Rand he went out every single night and gave it 100% and still put the points up on the board. I don’t think anyone was expecting him to set the world alite and put up the same numbers as he did with the Raiders the season before, but just under a point per game production is still not something to be sniffed at. Joe was the fourth highest scorer on the team last season behind Greg Chambers, Sheppard, Greg Owen and just finished a point ahead of Joe Miller and Joe Greener.

Point production wasn’t the reason why Rand was bought in by Sheppard; there are plenty of other imports throughout the league that can and have put up more points than he has during the season. But a player that can hit and is commited to taking the body, works hard and disrupts the flow of play for the opposition and someone that gives his all for the team and can create chances is exactly what he was first signed for.

The re-signing shows Sheppards content for the next season, despite losing Greg Owen (retirement) and Stevie Lyle (Swindon) he is showing that the team he puts together will still be hard hitting and gritty which is what the fans love. How Rand will fall into the grand scheme of things will depend on the other signings Sheppard makes. Is there better import forwards out there; well absolutely! Is Rand the right fit for the Bison and Sheppard; I’d say at this moment in time 100% yes.

Chieftains and Raiders through to Play-off Final

With the EPL and EIHL both finishing in early April there was still plenty of action to keep the fans interested in ice hockey for a little longer before the summer takes over.

Last weekend saw the semi-finals of the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) South 1 play-offs. With the Chelmsford Chieftains already crowned league champions they would be looking to do the double in the play-offs.
As expected the semi-finals featured the top four from the league and two epic battles were drawn. Chelmsford would face Invicta whilst the two Raiders were locked in battle.

Invicta went into their semi-final the under-dogs knowing they had only beaten Chelmsford once in six attempts this season. Thanks to goals from Ross Brears, Julius Sinkovic and player/coach Gary Clarke the Chieftains took a 3-2 lead into the second leg on home ice.

On Sunday the Dynamos gave everything they could to get back in the game and a 13 goal thriller was decided in favour of the Chieftains after the two legs were completed; to progress to the play-off finals.

On Saturday the Wightlink Raiders were at home and knew they need a comfortable cushion to take into the second leg in Romford; which would be the last ever game to be played at the Rom Valley Way Ice Rink and home to the Raiders for the past 20+ years.

The Raiders put in a spectacular performance on home ice to take a two goal lead into the second leg in Romford. However the tables were turned the following night as Romford clawed back the two goal deficit, scoring with just 10 seconds remaining to force overtime.

However the game would be decided on the dreaded penalty shoot-out. The first two attempts were missed by both clubs, but Richard Facey stepped up for Wightlink and calmly slotted his shot home to put them ahead. Romford’s Danny Marshall was up next but he could not match Facey and his shot missed giving the victory to Wightlink and sending them to the play-off finals to face Chelmsford.

In the NIHL the play-off final is a two game contest with a home and away fixture to decide the winner; unlike the EPL/EIHL which is decided in one game at the finals weekend.

The Raiders will play at home on Saturday 20th April before heading back to Essex on Sunday for the final showdown of the season.

Play-Off Semi Finals
Saturday 13 April 2013 – Leg 1

Wightlink Raiders 4-2 Romford Raiders
Invicta Dynamos 2-3 Chelmsford Chieftains

Sunday 14 April 2013 – Leg 2

Chelmsford Chieftains 7-6 Invicta Dynamos
Romford Raiders 4-2 Wightlink Raiders

Cesky joins Bison and Fojtik heads north to Tigers

A number of weeks ago a rumour was doing the rounds that the Bison were set to sign Jarolsav Cesky from the Telford Tigers. The questions at the time were who would make way from their import list to accommodate Cesky on the roster; with the presumption that they would not be capable of funding a 5^th import. Well the most likely candidate at the time was Joe Rand. Rand stepped up to the Bison and EPL from the Wightlink Raiders and ENL 1. Questions were asked at the time of his announcement of whether he would fit in and be of good enough quality for the EPL. Well he has shown himself capable having put up 10 points from 12 games; with 4 goals and 6 assists.

Many could not fathom why the Bison would need to sign a player such as Cesky with the amount of firepower and top draw forwards that had joined Coach Sheppard over the summer. With the likes of top Brits Greg Owen, Joe Miller and Joe Greener joining ex-Bison  Greg Chambers, Rand and Sheppard himself on the forward lines the Bison should not be short of scoring ability. However it has not worked out that way after 13 games played.

They have currently only scored 37 goals compared to the 22 conceded (+15 difference), but in stark contrasts to Guildford’s 65 GF, Bracknell’s 50 GF and Manchester’s 47 GF.  The lowest goals against figure is in no small part due to having arguably the best British netminder in the EPL; in the form of Stevie Lyle. So what isn’t going right for the Bison and why aren’t they getting the goals. The only people that know this will be Coach Sheppard and the players themselves; however Sheppard has obviously felt changes are needed to light up the score boards for the Bison.

The shock twist in this saga came earlier this week when Coach Sheppard announced that his import defenceman, the 6ft 5” Czech giant Tomas Fojtik, had been released by the club.

The following day, and much to everyone’s surprise, Cesky had been announced as leaving the Tigers to become a Bison player for the remainder of the 2012-13 season. What was even more shocking was Tiger’s player-coach Tom Watkins announcing that Fojtik would make his way north to join the Shropshire side. So seemingly a straight swap of players between the two clubs. Well not quite!

Cesky joins a team currently in 2^nd place in the league standings from one that is currently in last place; however coming off their first 4 point weekend of the season. Cesky himself the hero of the hour, with his hat-trick giving the Tigers victory over the MK Lightning on Sunday.

Fojtik leaves a team that has seemingly been the best defensively this season. As mentioned above that has a lot to do with the Bison having the best netminder in the league. Lyle has faced 363 shots (second highest of all netminders) however only conceded 19 goals. This gives a goals against average as 1.7 goals a game and a save percentage of 94.77 (correct as of 24.10.12).

So you could say that what the Bison will miss from Fojtik in defence will be levelled out by what Cesky will bring on offense. Well that isn’t always the case. It will take Cesky time to settle into the Bison’s system of play and to find that ability to click with his line-mates; therefore the goals may not come flowing immediately.

So who is to replace Fojtik? It would appear that “Mr Basingstoke” Tony Redmond will switch from offense to defence. Redmond is a two-way player and can play either position confidently and to a high standard; just the type of player you need on your team for situations like this. Chambers may also find time on the defence. He proved in 2011-12 whilst at Guildford that he can play in defensive positions to a high standard; however it would not make sense to take your highest point scorer away from where he would be best utilised.

So it is more likely that it’ll just be Redmond dropping back to join an all British defence; the only team in the EPL to do so.

So what will the Tigers now do without their out and out scorer? It surprised many when Cesky was announced as signing for Telford. Having seemingly left Swindon for Europe he made a u-turn decision to remain in Britain and the EPL. Cesky gave the Tigers that out and out scoring ability that they had lacked in recent seasons and he proved with his hat-trick against the Lightning that he was doing his job perfectly. Although Fojtik will boost the defence at Telford it is now hard to see where the goals at the other end of the ice will come from.

However an interesting observation could come from ex-Tiger Josh Bruce asking to be released from his contract with the Slough Jets.

Bruce left Telford during the off season to join the Jets for 2012-13. In the Jets’ press release it made mention to Bruce remaining (living) up north and travelling south at weekends; which he has found hard and therefore has asked for the release.

So could Bruce be set to re-join the Tigers and give them the required depth on the forward lines they will now lack? Bruce isn’t a high scorer by any means and only managed 41 points from 15 goals and 26 assists last season. This year he currently has 6 points from 11 games; so isn’t going to directly replace Cesky if he does re-join the Tigers but will put points on the board for them none the less.

It is an interesting move by the Bison to sacrifice a little in defence to have a bit more up front on offense. Only time will tell whether it was a correct move by Sheppard to make.