ICE HOCKEY
WIGHTLINK Raiders have made squad changes this week — releasing the import they have just signed.
Raiders’ player-coach Jeremy Cornish originally planned to unleash Canadian forward Jimmy Chiropoulos on the National League but they made the decision not to sign him, after failing to establish exact statistics from his playing days in Canada.
However, Cornish has pulled a trump card by quickly securing the signature of Czech Republic forward Jiri Hanzal.
Jiri, 26, is the older brother of NHL star Martin Hanzal, who is assistant captain of Phoenix Coyotes.
Jiri has spent much of his career in the Czech Republic and France but made the move to England last season by signing with Telford Tigers, of the English Premier League. He then moved later in the season, to Elite League Edinburgh Capitals.
Cornish said: "He has great size and do very well in our little rink. He has big shoes to fill with Joe Rand not coming back, but he is looking forward to the challenge of being a first line centre for our club."
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk