Swindon Wildcats are delighted to announce the signing of Eliot Randall ahead of the upcoming NIHLS1 season.
Eliot joins the senior Wildcats after spending last two seasons with the Swindon Wildcats Ice Hockey Academy. During his time with the Academy Eliot posted 50 goals and 33 assists for a total of 88 points in only 35 games. He also captained the Swindon Cougars in the U18 league last season.
Eliot will be on a two-way deal with the NIHL2 Wildcats, where he scored 9 points in 15 games last year. The 18-year-old forward is someone with a big future in the game and Swindon Wildcats Head Coach Aaron Nell had an eye on the future when adding him to the roster.
“Eliot is a fantastic prospect. He will train with the team and play up for us when he can, he is highly thought of within the SWIHA and I have been impressed when I’ve seen him play. We are extremely lucky to have the OHA and SWIHA both providing players for the future in Swindon. The SWIHA is the biggest junior set up in the UK and this highlights the pathway for the youngsters is there.
As an organisation we are proud of the successes the SWIHA has had in recent years and with Eliot joining the senior team hopefully it will inspire the players of tomorrow to greater success. I’m really looking forward to working with Eliot and watching him develop his career with the Wildcats.”
Alongside the news that Eliot will be joining the team, we are also pleased to confirm a more familiar face will also be back with the Wildcats for the start of the season. Loris Taylor will be back in the senior line-up on an initial 4-week-trial when the season gets underway in September.
Loris was a regular name on the Wildcats rosters between 2009-2014, but has more recently been captain of the NIHL2 Wildcats. However, he will join up with the NIHL1 Wildcats once again at the start of the season where he hopes to impress enough to remain with us for the duration of the 18-19 campaign.
“Loris approached me at the back end of last season saying he was eager to play for the senior Wildcats again. He knows the club and he is another product of the SWIHA, he should fit right into the locker-room from the moment we all meet up. Loris has been around a while but it is easy to forget he’s only 24, hopefully he’s been working hard this summer and is ready to grab his trial with both hands.
Throughout his junior days, and more recently in NIHL2 we have seen the offensive ability he has, if he works hard and leaves everything out on the ice, then he’ll be an asset to us going forward. I’m sure the Wildcats fans will be pleased to welcome him back into the senior squad again!” Said Head Coach Aaron Nell.
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