Bison set to sign two new players

The short-benched Basingstoke Bison will unveil two new signings this week as they try to bolster their squad.

Hit by the departure of several players in the wake of turmoil off the ice, new owners Planet Ice say they are waiting for two players to gain work permits.

"We've signed two players that we will announce next week once they've got clearance to get into the country," said Planet Ice's John Neville.

Neville added the Bison were "still looking for other players".

However, he did not name the players set to join.

The Bison began the season with a fairly small squad and have lost players on a regular basis, the latest to leave being goaltender Joe White and import duo Curtiss Patrick and Matt Miller.

"It's been a difficult period," Neville admitted to BBC Berkshire. "But this is our fourth weekend of games and the results are good at the moment.

"We knew we were going to lose Joe White but we had a back-up ready. It was a disappointment that we lost Matt Miller but we wish him well in the future."

Neville confirmed that director of hockey Harry Robinson was "working hard" to attract new sponsorship, and reinforced the message that Elite League ice hockey in Basingstoke would not be viable without it.

"We need sponsors to keep going, not only for this season but the seasons coming forward. It all depends on sponsorship where we play next year," he said.

"This season is this season, we'll get through it and play to the best of our ability. Next season we'll look at come the end of this season."

Meanwhile, former Bison star Brad Cruikshank paid tribute to the Basingstoke supporters on his return to the town.

Cruikshank was one of the players to leave earlier in the season, joining Sheffield Steelers, who were beaten on penalties by the Bison in an impressive victory for the North Hampshire side on Saturday.

"I got a great reception. I was pretty excited to come back," Cruikshank told the BBC.

"I brought my family down and it was a good evening - besides losing. I had goosebumps going up the back of my neck, I appreciate it.

"I'll always have a soft spot for Basingstoke. We were sitting in the dressing room talking about the atmosphere, how loud and passionate these fans are."