Oxford City Stars, Oxfordshire's Premier Ice Hockey team competing in NIHL1 South, is pleased to announce the acquisition of 27-year-old defenseman, Will Harding. The 6'2, 80kg Swindon native joins the Stars for the remainder of the season, following the unfortunate closure of Swindon's NIHL2 team due to flooding, leaving them without a home rink. Will joins the team with immediate effect and joins the team today (Pending paperwork).
Will Harding expressed his excitement about the new opportunity, stating, "With the rink closing in Swindon, it was great to get the opportunity to skate with the Stars having played with a few of the boys previously. It was a great honor to then be asked to join the team for the rest of the season. The boys have all been welcoming, and I am looking forward to giving my best to the team for the remainder of the year."
Head Coach Simon Anderson emphasised the necessity of the signing, saying, "With Charlie Roche on the long-term injury list and the unfortunate 10-game suspension handed to Darcy Flanagan by the EIHA, I decided that we needed to look at signing another defenseman for cover. With Swindon NIHL2's unfortunate demise, Will reached out, and we invited him down for a skate. First of all, he was a great fit in the room with the rest of the boys, and on the ice, he is a strong skater, sees the ice well, makes a good first pass, and doesn't shy away from physicality. We are excited to have Will onboard and look forward to seeing him pull the yellow jersey on in Romford today."
Will Harding brings a wealth of experience and skill to the Stars' defensive lineup, and the team is eager to see him in action on the ice today.