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The fans’ team the Tigers are never going to pull up trees but during the season they will upset a few apple carts, and will go from strength to strength every year. Teams will look to farm out their best juniors?Elitle players as the Tigers look for the bargain basement player to light up the fans’ season. Venus, Soar and Bowley have all been put on show and got plenty of ice time. A sound foundation to build on and maybe, just maybe, a big sponsor round the corner. So let’s take a look at last year’s squad and see wether the players could/may return.

Player	GP	G	A	Pts.	PIM	What the Jock thinks !
Greg Blais	26	0	0	0	6	Signed as player-coach with bench coach Creamer and Thomason, nothing new
Callum Bowley	50	5	11	16	14	Great 1st full season for Bowley, think Panthers will release him again on a 2-way.
Luke Brittle	50	14	23	37	8	Brittle will re-sign but expect Coventry to call on his services.
Josh Bruce	53	15	26	41	40	Bruce could be on the move as Slough and Swindon look to improve their Brit lines.
Thomas Castle	22	1	1	2	4	Castle will not re-sign.
Vincent Connon	17	2	1	3	2	Connon will return to Scotland.
Daniel Croft	51	1	2	3	71	Croft has one more year left in him.
Joe Henry	52	20	19	39	30	Henry will have offers but will return to Tigers.
Marek Hornak	40	7	20	27	14	Finding it hard to find his form, but Hornak will sign as cover for one more year.
Tomas Janak	53	5	17	22	34	Janak again will re-sign.
Scott McKenzie	54	25	30	55	30	Can McKenzie resist the call from the bigger clubs looking to bolster their Brit lines, Phoenix could be that team.
Joshua Nicholls	25	0	0	0	0	Nicholls can't ride the pine too many times, Titans may be the answer.
Adam Radmall	8	0	0	0	4	Radmall will return to Nottingham and play for fun or retire.
Declan Ryan	46	0	3	3	6	Ryan will be on the move this year as he looks like being the Phoenix back-up or could get a call from the Bees.
Henrik Sahlin	13	2	2	4	4	Back to ENL South.
Ryan Selwood	53	1	5	6	40	This year will be Selwood’s big chance as most of Tigers’ Brits are offered bigger wages.
Juraj Senko	53	7	20	27	44	Could have been the find of the season, but not to be. Did not put up the numbers he was expected to.
Thomas Soar	50	12	11	23	4	Great 1st year for Soar and may be rewarded with a stint at another team such as Swindon. Other than that a 2-way again with Panthers.
Adam Taylor	18	2	2	4	0	Taylor will be rewarded with a regular spot.
Tom Watkins	50	4	10	14	86	Carry on coach Watkins

The Tigers will look at Elite/EPL teams to offload their juniors as they will look to improve on their 2011-2012 year. I expect them to lose a couple of their top Brits as the bigger clubs offer the big bucks, Saying that, the Tigers could pick up some good juniors from other clubs, the likes of Bowley, Soar and the up-and-coming Danny Rose from the Panthers. The Tigers could also get lucky with their import selection to go with Hornak and Janak. Could this be the team who Peter Vaissanen has signed for?

TELFORD TIGERS REVIEW

THANKS TO ‘THE JOCK STRAP’

YOU GOT it 1st FROM THE

TRS Telford Tigers

netminder Declan Ryan believes raised expectations could drive the club towards a play-off spot in only its third season in existence.

The 19-year-old was unveiled alongside Ben Hunt this week, as the Tigers confirmed their netminding line-up for the 2012/13 campaign. Ryan joined the supporters-owned club for its first season in 2010 and has since established himself as a worthy number-one custodian.

Last year saw Telford beat every team in the EPL at least once - prompting expectations of another step forward. He said: "We've been here for three years and people will expect us to start winning games and get a play-off spot. I am definitely looking for us to be in the play-offs next April, so hopefully we've got the funds and the sponsors to make something happen this year."

Ryan's performances last season were rewarded with a place in the Great Britain under-20s side for the world championships. That place in the spotlight led, inevitably, to offers from elsewhere in the league, but the teenager is happy to remain in Telford. "I had a few options and there were phone calls with other teams," he added. "But Telford is a good choice and it is a really nice club. The fans are great and they help us out a lot. I have settled is here well and it is my first EPL club, so I didn't really see the need to move."

The capture of Ben Hunt from ENL outfit Telford Titans follows a string of outstanding performances over the last few seasons. Also 19, Hunt is a welcome product of the town's junior system, and he will be looking to stamp his mark on the team. He said: "It feels great. I have been playing ENL for a few years, so it is good to finally make the step up. I want to progress in my career, and I will definitely be doing that this season. I am really excited."

Tigers player-coach Tom Watkins will continue his recruitment process over the next few weeks, following trials at the start of this month.

TRS Telford Tigers

have secured one of the youngest netminder pairings in the EPL, with Declan Ryan set to be joined by teenager Ben Hunt. The club fought off interest from across the league to secure the services of Ryan, who has established himself as Telford's number-one custodian. He will be put under pressure by local youngster Hunt, who earned rave reviews for his displays with Telford Titans in the English National League.

Tigers player-coach Tom Watkins was delighted to agree terms with Ryan, who has become a star on the international scene with Great Britain under-20s. He said: "There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to bring Dec back, but I was a bit concerned that he would be picked up by one of the other clubs. Nothing was certain until he said he wanted to come back, and there are other things involved, like his university course, so you start making sure you are covering your back. But I am really pleased to get him back

on board. He is still young, but he is another player who has progressed massively with us and he played some great games last season."

The addition of Hunt to the Telford line-up gives Watkins further options in goal, with assistant Greg Blais still registered to play.

And he is looking forward to seeing his latest signing build on two impressive seasons for the Titans. "I have worked with Ben for a long time in the juniors and he is a great kid," Watkins added. "He has always been a good netminder and is one of those players with a lot of natural talent. There are a lot of these kids in Telford who have great ability."

The club has also announced an extension to its sponsorship deal with the Park Inn at Telford. The hotel has agreed to supply hotel rooms to players for a third consecutive season - and continue its strategy of helping community groups. Lucja Leonard, General Manager at the Park Inn, said: "We have a programme called Responsible Business, so we try to help the local community and get

involved in local projects. We also help out Hope House and Telford Young Carers, so our deal with the Tigers is great in terms of helping local groups. The guys were brilliant when it came to PR events last season and and taking our clients to an ice hockey game was something different. They loved it."