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Phoenix sign centreman Nathan Ward

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Manchester Phoenix head coach Tony Hand has made his second raid on the Odessa Jackalopes in signing Canadian centreman Nathan Ward.

Nathan Ward follows hot on the heels of defenceman Alex Dunn and he noted, “Alex is a really good player, we’re good friends having played together for the past two years and it’ll be good for us both to know someone when we get to Manchester to help us settle into new surroundings.”

Entering his third year as a professional, Nathan is looking to continue his development as a player that saw him double his point production last season over his first year. “After signing with the Jackalopes, I just didn’t seem to get my share of the luck. I hit just about every post and crossbar imaginable,” he laughed. “I didn’t lose my confidence though, it’s all about learning from your mistakes, working harder and making things happen. I’m level-headed enough to know that the bounces that don’t go your way soon enough come round again and last season saw things work out much better for me. It would nice to enjoy the same level of improvement again this year.”

Originally from Edmonton Alberta, Nathan stands 6ft 1inch and nudges the needle on the scales to the 200lb mark. A left-shot centreman, he spent four years at Lake Superior State University studying for a degree in Business Management and he added, “When coach Hand advised me that the club has a relationship with the University of Bolton, I was immediately interested as I’m keen to continue my education in Business Administration. First and foremost though, I’m coming to Manchester to play hockey and win, the schooling is a bonus for me.”

“Nathan will bring good energy to the club, he’s hungry and improving each year,” noted Tony Hand. “Like Alex, he played for a while under Don McKee and again, Don spoke highly of his work ethic and determination to make an impact. He’s got good size and has been recommended to me as a smart player.”

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• Profile for Nathan Ward