ICE HOCKEY: Morvan hails new faces

8:00am Thursday 13th September 2007

Oxford City Stars' coach Darryl Morvan has hailed the capture of new signings Will Skaife, Kent Johnson, Lee Stobie and Sam Bourgein as they prepare for their English National League South Conference campaign.

Defender Skaife has joined from Bracknell Hornets, while forward Johnson comes in from Gosport.

Stobie and Bourgein used to play for Oxford juniors. Stobie has also had spells at Milton Keynes and Solihull.

The quartet are joined by ex-Oxford old boys forward, Grant Bailey and defender Nick Eden, who have returned from Swindon.

David Tyler (netminder), forward Joe Oliver and Jamie Shepherd-Smith have been promoted from the junior ranks.

Darren Elliott, Dean Francis, Alan Green, Jacob Smith, Nick Oliver, Kevin McGurk , Dave Carr, James Skaife, Andy Cox, Sam Broughton, Patrick Knightley and Ben Moody have all been retained.

Meanwhile, there have been several departures in the summer.

Paul Donahue has retired to spend more time with his family, Lukas Szabo is studying in America, while Tom Hooper has signed for Coventry.

"Kent Johnson was Solent & Gosport's top-scorer last season which is a testament of his ability and strength," said Morvan.

"We feel he is going to do a good and respectable job for us this season.

"We have also got Nick (Eden) and Grant (Bailey) who are excellent signings with fantastic ability levels.

"We have also signed Lee (Stobie) who has great ability.

"Finally we have in Sam (Bourgein) a forward who played in our junior squad a few years back and played roller hockey too whom we hope will play a big part in the squad.

"I am very pleased with retaining most of last year's squad.

"It's got advantages of continuity that will help us we had a good amount of success last year.

"And now with our 21-member squad it's down to them to dig a bit deeper and to build on last year's success."

Stars kick off their season on Sunday when they host Peterborough in the League Cup.