The return of Bucas

Fri 07, 2010 11:03

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Whitley Warriors coach Simon Leach last night pulled off the surprise signing of former player Kevin Bucas and the no-nonsense defender will be back on the ice when the squad begins pre-season early next month.

“Kevin contacted me a couple of weeks ago,” confirmed Leach, “and after a couple of chats, he has made the decision to return to the Warriors after a couple of seasons out of the game.

“Having lost six players over the summer, to add such an experienced local player to the side is a huge boost to us,” added the coach.

“He may have been out of the game for a while, but Kevin is in very good physical condition and it shouldn’t take him long to get back up to speed.”

The Warriors defence certainly has a very experienced look about it with the addition of the former GB junior and Leach is confident they will have a big say in the club’s defence of the two titles they won last season.

“We built our success, in the second half of the season especially, on being very difficult to break down and having Kevin join us as the big physical presence he is, can only add to that,” the coach continued.

For his own part, Bucas is delighted at the prospect of pulling on a Whitley shirt again: “I had started to miss hockey and as the kids are now getting a little older, felt the time was right to return,” he said.

“Now I just can’t wait to get back in the dressing room with the lads and get ready for that first training session.

“We certainly seem to have a very decent squad and I’m looking forward to helping the Warriors defend those titles; and also see if we can make a good go at winning the Northern League as well.”

Whitley fans will remember his physical style, but any fears that his time away from the game might have mellowed him, were allayed when Bucas declared: “I don’t know any other way to play!