Paisley Pirates-singings further update

Coach Ian Turley has continued to ring the changes in his squad for the new SNL season by bringing in another 3 newcomers to the squad, in the shape of Connor Spiers and Callum Hepburn, with Marc Crute returning to his roots by signing for the club after spending much of his early ice hockey career with the Paisley Junior Development set up a number of years ago.

“As I’ve already said, we’re committed to bringing in young players who will marry their natural ability and enthusiasm to the experience they will gain, not just by getting ice time, but by playing alongside some very good players whom we have retained from previous campaigns. That’s got to be the way forward for a club like ours-we are unable to run our own junior development scheme because there isn’t suitable ice time available to do so, therefore we have to provide a suitable attractive package for potential young players which will entice them here.”

“Providing an environment where they will learn good habits on the ice, and be well looked after off it, is the way forward for us and if the signings we’ve made are any sort of a guide, it’s clearly the right route for the club and these young players. Marc Crute becomes the third player, after Fraser Campbell and Dean Hamilton, to return to the club after a spell elsewhere, or out of the sport altogether, having played much of his junior hockey at Paisley, and if Marc and Dean make the same sort of impact that Fraser made upon his return then I’ll be well happy.”

He went on, “Connor Spiers has played against us in the past for Solway and has impressed me as a young defender with loads of promise, not to mention ability, and I think within the environment we provide at Paisley he’ll come on in leaps and bounds. He’s only 21 and I think we’re getting him at the right age, when he’s already picked up a lot of ice time and experience, whereas Callum Hepburn is a first class netminder who’s still in his teens but who, I’m sure, will be challenging Graeme Meechan for the netminder slot very quickly. He’s coming to us on a two way contract from the Solway Sharks National Ice Hockey League side so that tells you he’s a well rated young netminder.”

“Marc Crute was a standout player when he was with the Paisley youngsters a few years ago and already he’s been showing some delightful touches in practice. Like I said, Fraser Campbell came back to us two years ago after a spell away and has made a great impact on the team, and I see Marc very much in the same mould, able to contribute greatly to what we’re trying to do and making a difference for us.”

“I haven’t yet ruled out the possibility of bringing in another couple of players who didn’t ice for us last year, but with these guys, and the bulk of the team which was with us last year, I’m really looking forward to seeing them all on the ice in a couple of weeks.!