Duo sign up for Wild campaign
THE YKK sponsored Widnes Wild have announced the return for two more players from last season’s successful Moralee Division team for the forthcoming 2022/23 NIHL season.
The first one is Nathan Britton, who joined the Wild last season and was an important part of the team that finished 3rd in the Moralee Division and won the Moralee Cup. He scored 10 goals and 7 assists in 37 games over the course of the season and picked up just 2 penalty minutes.
Nathan is a product of the highly respected Sheffield youth development system, played EIHA conference hockey at U11 and U17 level and was an U18 league champion with the Sheffield Steelhawks.
He then went on to spend 10 seasons with the Sheffield Senators NIHL team where he scored some 350 points in 230 games over 10 seasons at D1 and D2 level.
Talking about his return to the Wild for the new season, Britton said: “After last year’s success with the boys, I was keen to let
Richie know I’d want to be here again.
“Playing in front of the fans last year was amazing and, hopefully, we can keep getting those numbers this coming season!
“We’re going to try and have a season as good as the last one and, hopefully, I can put up a few on the board and help the boys out.”
Widnes Player Coach Richard Haggar said of Britton: “Nathan was an excellent addition last year, you know exactly what to expect from him and what you are going to get. Having him back this season was a no brainer. He gives his all, game in game out, his passing ability and game awareness are second to none and I am looking forward to seeing him get going again this season”
The second returnee of the week is Joe Graves.
Greaves joined the Wild last season for his second spell with the club and was an important part of the team that finished 3rd in the Moralee Division and won the Moralee Cup. He scored 7 goals and 9 assists in 23 games across all competitions over the course of the season and picked up 153 penalty minutes.
Greaves has a huge amount of experience, having played over 280 league and cup games at NIHL level. He played junior hockey at Bradford, Deeside and Manchester and also a season of University hockey for the Manchester Metros teams. He played 8 NIHL seasons at Altrincham for the Aces and their predecessors the Manchester Minotaurs and Trafford Metros, part of the 2014/215 season with the Wild and also a season with the Blackburn Hawks.
A very popular player due to his robust and enthusiastic approach to games, Joe has occasionally been criticised for being “over-pugilistic” and has actually accrued a career total of over 1000 PIM. However, in all fairness to the player, it has to be pointed out that his penalty figures for last season are somewhat skewed due to a glitch on the EIHA scoring system and, while he was still the Wild’s “Penalty King”, his actual figures are not quite as bad as they appear on paper.
Talking about Greaves’ return to Widnes, Wild head coach Richard Haggar said: “Joe needs no introduction. He settled in really well last season and showed the strength and shooting power he possesses. He always has a will to succeed and drive the team forward which I expect to see more of this season. He is a very talented guy which I know we will see more of this season with him hitting the back of the net on a regular basis.”
Joe Greaves said: “It’s great to be asked to return to the club for another season. It’s a great set up in Widnes and the chemistry with the team says it all for me. We’ve had some great additions this summer and I’m looking forward to getting going.”
● The Mayhem sledge hockey team play their last game of the regular season when they take on the Sheffield Steelstings this Saturday 16th July at Planet Ice Widnes – 4pm face off
The Widnes-based team are on a roll at the moment having won their last two games – 0-10 away to the Steelstings and then 1-7 away to the
Peterborough Phantoms last weekend so will be keen to sign off with a flourish .
The British Para Ice Hockey League – to give its full and correct title – had to miss the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the Covid pandemic and various lockdowns but it is back this year with a five-team competition playing home and away fixtures over the summer months.
The Mayhem team includes a number of GB international players - as well as Canadian Peggy Assinck who is a GB coach, and head of the new GB Women’s Para Ice Hockey programme, while also playing for her native country.
The Mayhem are currently 3rd in the British Para Ice Hockey League table just ahead of the Steelstings who are in 4th place.
The pairings for the end of season play offs are decided by final league positions so every game is crucial at this stage of the season.
The game on Saturday at Widnes faces off at 4.00pm and admission is free for all spectators.