Hughes returns to the Wild

THE YKK Widnes Wild have announced that Berwyn ‘Bez’ Hughes will be returning to the club for the forthcoming 2018-19 Laidler Division season.

The 23-year-old played his junior hockey at Deeside and Altrincham before switching to Telford where he played 28 NIHL North One games with the Titans team over the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns.

Hughes joined Tom Ratcliffe gaining experience in the USA in 2015-16 playing 32 games for Charlotte Rush in the USPHL tier three junior league.

He joined the Wild for the 2014-15 season and will be returning for his fourth league campaign this time around.

Hughes has played 105 games for Widnes, scoring 17 times with 32 assists and picking up 182 Penalties In Minutes.

Talking about his return to the Wild for another season, Hughes said: “It’s good to be coming back into the Wild locker room for another season.

“I’m looking forward to getting back at it this year in front of the best fans in the league.

“This year is looking good and Ollie [Barron – head coach] is getting a strong team together so this year is looking good and I’m happy and proud to be coming back for a fourth season.”

Meantime, the Wild are delighted to announce the return of Richard Charles as assistant coach.

Charles, who was one of the first signings for the Wild when the team formed, has not been a formal part of the coaching team in recent seasons but has remained involved with the club in, effectively, a consultant capacity.

As well as coaching and playing for the Wild the 45-year-old Scotsman has played for the Dundee Tigers, the Fife Flyers and the Blackburn Hawks and is someone both head coach Barron and assistant coach Mark Gillingham were keen to have back in the Wild locker room and on the bench for the forthcoming season.

Meanwhile, popular player Pavel Vales has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 25. The Czech Republic-born star joined the Wild in 2014 for whom he played more than 100 games.