This follows the decision taken by the International Ice Hockey Federation, the National Hockey League, the American Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League to support such a move.

'Koleslar is a popular player within the team. His performance in the coming season will reinforce the aggressive way in which the London Knights are playing within the Ice Hockey League'.

�We have decided to make this move for the continued growth and long term good of the Club�, said Bill Barr, Executive Chairman of Ice Hockey Services Limited, owners of the Scottish Eagles. �Braehead provides us with a much larger catchment area, ensuring more people have the opportunity to get involved in this most exciting and adrenalin filled night out and we�re confident we will be able to welcome the bigger crowds and involve more people in supporting Scotland�s team and safeguarding its future�.

�It is a positive step forward for the team and for ice hockey and I hope our loyal fans from Ayr will make the short trip to Braehead. Over the last six years they have helped us create solid foundations and a very successful team and together the Scottish Eagles will go from strength to strength�, he added.

Eagles Head Coach, Paul Heavey will continue his team-building job, with outstanding Great Britain International, Jonathan Weaver and hugely experienced Canadian, Mike Harding already under contract.

The Scottish Eagles also have a new member of the team. The Eagles have poached the marketing start up expertise of Bob Zeller, the former Managing Director of the Belfast Giants. Giants� Chairman Albert Maasland will assume a more hands on role with the Belfast Club.

Settling in Braehead, Zeller said, �The ownership of the Eagles remains in the control of Ice Hockey Services and I will initially be helping to make the Eagles� transition from Ayr to Braehead run as smoothly as possible. I am looking forward to working with the team and meeting the fans. The Eagles will be spreading their wings at this much larger arena and I encourage everyone to checkout the first home games in September. Together we will be developing a stronger Eagles franchise and a stronger Superleague.

Given that Mr. Zeller still retains a shareholding interest in Belfast Giants and now has an active interest in the Scottish Eagles, the following will take effect so far as relates to the transfer of player between the two clubs and scheduled fixtures.

No transfer (permanent or temporary) of any player will be allowed to take place between Belfast Giants and Scottish Eagles or vice versa, either directly or via another club or clubs, in any league, from the period beginning with the first date of registration for a season for either of the clubs until the end of that relevant season.

In addition, all possible steps will be taken to prevent both clubs meeting in any ISL Competition as the last fixture of any series of any competition, except knock out stages where they are pre-drawn.

The above restrictions are the same as those imposed upon Manchester Storm and Nottingham Panthers following the changes to their shareholding interests last season. ISL Corporate Rules allow persons to have an interest in more than one ISL Club, so long as they only have control of one club at any time.

Brian Storey, ISL Chief Administration Officer stated, �The above restrictions are intended to preserve the sporting ethic of the league whilst ensuring that those with the expertise, who can play a supportive role in more than one club, may do so�

The 25-year-old had an explosive end of season last year with Dayton Bombers. In eight regular season games he scored nine goals and three assists - in his debut weekend he scored 3+3 in three games. At Dayton he was described as the "X-factor" - the player whose team wins when he is on peak form.

Thirty-one years old, from Melrose Massachusetts in the United States, Dan Hodge has excellent ice hockey pedigree running through his veins. His father Ken Hodge Snr enjoyed an illustrious career in the NHL icing with Chicago, Boston and the New York Rangers while elder brother Ken Hodge Jnr also iced in the 'show' before spending the best part of two seasons in Cardiff as a Devil. Whilst his father and brother were both forwards, Dan chose the blueline as his hockey station and was himself a ninth round draft selection of the Boston Bruins in 1991 while playing for Merrimack College.

Sheffield have signed him in the belief he was the premier netminder in the lower East Coast Hockey League last year � and would have played at the superior IHL if that division had not gone bust.

35-year-old Ian comes to the Flames with a wealth of experience having played 65 games at the worlds highest level with the NHL�s Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders. Last season Herbers played for the Ayr Scottish Eagles, scoring 15 points in 41 games.

The Giants have also confirmed the return of Rod Stevens. The 28-year-old from Murrayville, British Columbia, will be the seventh of the championship winning team to re-sign and the fifth player to return to Northern Ireland for a third season. Last year he finished the club's fifth top points scorer with 18 goals and 21 assists for a very respectable 39 points.

The Superleague Champions are remaining tight lipped as to what the announcement will be, but rumours have been rife for some time that Bob Zeller was about to quit the club - possibly to invest his cash in the Scottish Eagles.

Coach Dave Whistle meanwhile has been busy signing new players. An official announcement with regards the signing of Ryan Bach and the re-signing of Colin Ward is still awaited, but Rod Stevens is definitely returning and more are set to follow imminently.

"We are delighted Glenn is joining us for what we are sure will be an exciting season," said McSorley. "He will do a cracking job for the team." McSorley is heading the Devils recruitment campaign in conjunction with Mulvenna.

The signing brings the squad size to 12 so far and coach Enio Sacilotto is expected to have signed up to five more players in time for the first competitive game of the season on September 6th, when the Bees play London Knights at London Arena.

Also reported today is, the Bracknell Bees will be taking part in a pre-season tournament "Enordia Cup" on August 30th and 31st along with the following teams Iserlohn Roosters, Vojens IK and REV Bremerhaven.

The fixtures for the tournament is as follows:
Semi-Final:
Friday, 30. August, Bracknell Bees v Iserlohn Roosters
Friday, 30. August, REV Bremerhaven v Vojens IK

3rd Place & Final
Saturday, 31. August, Loser Semi-Final 1 v Loser Semi-Final 2
Saturday, 31. August, Winner Semi-Final 1 � Winner Semi-Final 2

In 2000/2001 Arkiomaa played for the now defunct Newcastle Jesters, scoring 15 goals and 25 assists in the regular season. He was chosen by the fan-voted All-Star Coach, Chris McSorley, to be part of the All-Star team in December 2000 and picked up an assist to Denis Chasse�s goal.

Mark Dutiaume joined the Steelers from the Fife Flyers in the BNL mid way through last season, prior to that Mark had a spell in London.

�Mark can play either centre or wing so he adds some flexibility into the line up, as well as hitting hard he skates well and you can see from our signings so far I see us being a quicker team than last year." Said Coach Mike Blaisdell

Brown follows the earlier captures of Rhett Gordon, Brent Bobyck, Kent Simpson and Warren Norris and Coach Blaisdell couldn�t be more delighted. �I don�t think any other player we had last year received as many enquiries as did Jeff Brown. Every other team in the ISL had a sniff, teams in Europe were all over Jeff as well."

Mike Blaisdell said when announcing Bobycks return �I'm sure everyone in Sheffield will be delighted that Brent is returning, I think he more than won over all of our fans last year with his work effort and commitment to the Steelers cause. Every team needs a Brent Bobyck, a man who goes that extra mile game in and game out�

Sandrock, 24, from Williams Lake in British Colombia, spent five years in the junior Western Hockey League before moving to the North American minors.

Former Rivermen All-Star defenseman Darren Maloney has been accepted to law school in Canada and is getting married July 20.

Adams will start his second season for the Knights and Bronilla his third, both will be available for the pre-season CSFB Cup taking place between the 15th and 18th August.

The Mighty Ducks also acquired forward Igor Pohanka, defenseman Mike Commodore and goaltender J.F. Damphousse in the seven-player deal, while New Jersey also received forward Maxim Balmochnykh.

The Mighty Ducks have also agreed a two year deal with former Cardiff Devils winger Travis Brigley. Brigley played 12 games with the Cardiff Devils during the 2000/2001 season, scoring 14 points (5+9) before being signed as a free agent by the Florida Panthers.

The Dallas Stars signed winger Scott Young to a two-year contract Friday. Details weren't released, but ESPN The Magazine's E.J. Hradek reports that the deal is worth $7 million.

Mansi was the club�s MVP last season and his performances earned him a place on the ISL All Star team. Kim Ahlroos�s performances last season marked him as one of the fastest wingers in the ISL.

Bees tenth player to sign for the new season is Joe Ciccarello, the fast winger who came out of retirement to re-join the Bees in January this year, has signed a contract for the 2002/2003 season.

The loser after overtime will now receive 1 point, with the winner picking up 2 points, and one point going to each team if scores are still tied after 65 minutes.

The winningest goalie in Rangers history is staying put. Mike Richter agreed to terms on a new deal Thursday to remain in New York. Richter, whose rights actually were traded to Edmonton last week, is the third major free-agent signing for the Rangers, joining Bobby Holik and Darius Kasparaitis.

Free agent defensemen Luke Richardson and Scott Lachance signed multiyear contracts with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. The 33-year-old Richardson has played 15 years in the NHL, the last five seasons with Philadelphia. A 10-year veteran, Lachance, 29, had a plus-15 rating for the Vancouver Canucks in 81 games last year.

Canadian defenceman Hope, 39, will come out of retirement and join the Devils' pre-season training camp and said: "I'm out of shape right now, but I'm going it to give it a real go. I'd love to play for Chris McSorley's side," said Hope, who previously spent 11 seasons with the club.

The Devils will be on the FBNL fixture list when it is announced this week, one of 10 clubs alongside the likes of Newcastle, Coventry, Dundee, Edinburgh, Basingstoke and Solihull.

McSorley remains in talks with Peterborough businessman Kevin Tatam, who is also keen to be involved. It is likely, though, that McSorley will team up with Devils' fans, who will have places on the club board.

Primarily a defenceman the past two seasons, O�Rourke was drafted as a forward by the New York Islanders in the 7th round and his offensive skills were obvious on the occasions he was required to play that role to cover for injury.

Toronto used the same strategy the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars used last week when they dealt future free agents for draft picks. The Rangers traded forward Theo Fleury's rights to San Jose, and the Stars traded goalie Ed Belfour's rights to Nashville.

Also late Sunday, the Rangers traded the rights to goalie Mike Richter to Edmonton for future considerations, and the Maple Leafs traded the rights to enforcer Tie Domi to Nashville for a 2003 eighth-round draft pick.

Top of Page

Home | News | Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Club Info | W.A.T.N? | Site Map
History | Player Stats | League Tables | Player of the Month | Links | Forum

Copyright � 2002 Panthersroar