Wild stalwarts making a net return
He also iced on one occasion for the Edinburgh Capitals as back-up netminder in the Elite League.
Sprakes said: “I’ve been involved in one way or another from the very start of the ● Widnes Wild and to be asked to join the team last season was a dream come true. To play for your hometown is every lad’s dream. We have the best fans in the league and more and more coming each week. I can’t wait to get back to training again and working hard towards the goals Ollie and Mark have set for this coming season.”
MacDonald will double up as netminding coach for the Wild. He has been with the Wild since the very first 2013/14 season, having previously played several seasons for the Trafford Metros.
The stopper has iced in some 40 games for Widnes overall as either starting netminder or back-up and has an impressive save percentage rate of 87.45%
He said: “I’m really pleased to be part of the team again this season. The year on year improvement of the squad has been very promising and the addition of Deeside to our division will add some new local rivals for the title.”
The Wild will take to the ice for the first time this Sunday when they play last season’s league champions Sutton Sting in a challenge match at Planet Ice Widnes.
The Sting have won promotion to the higher Moralee Division for the forthcoming season and have assembled a strong squad, so it will provide a good opportunity for Wild player coach Ollie Barron to asses his own new-look team.
The game faces off at 5.30pm and doors open at 4.45pm. ● The full fixture list for the 2018/19 Laidler Division season can be seen at www. widneswild.co.uk, where information about shirt sponsorship and season tickets can also be found.