Whitley Warriors are happy to announce the re-signing of netminder Josh Crane for his second season on Tyneside.
After playing for Solihull Barons in the Under 16s league between 2009 and 2013, Crane switched to Coventry Blaze’s junior setup, dividing his ice time between the Under 16s and Under 18s teams and primarily icing for the latter in the following two seasons to register a save percentage of 91.5% in 17 league games in their 2015-16 campaign.
Crane then made his senior debut for NIHL 2’s Coventry Blaze in their 2016-17 season as well as making 18 appearances in the Under 20s league during which he recorded his best save percentage to date with 94.1%. In 2017, the netminder stepped up to NIHL 1 to gain experience with Milton Keynes Thunder whilst also featuring on 8 occasions for Coventry in NIHL 2, icing in the Under 20s league and being available to play for EIHL sides Milton Keynes Lightning and Edinburgh Capitals.
Whilst a return to Coventry followed, Crane, who will again wear shirt #32 this season, most recently iced in NIHL North 1 for Nottingham Lions, playing 14 league games and recording a save percentage of 85.9%.
On signing for Whitley for 2021-22, Crane shared netminding duties with with three other goalies but this didn’t stop him putting up good numbers – his ability to read the game and experience between the pipes saw him bag save percentage of 91.72% from 663 minutes on the ice.
Welcome back, Josh!