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Captain fantastic returns to the Dome

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J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix are delighted to announce that club captain Luke Boothroyd has returned to the Dome for a fifth season.

Huddersfield born 25 year old Luke played junior hockey with the Bradford Bulldogs before signing for Hull Stingrays in 2003. He iced 2 games for the British National League team and 12 games for the Kingston Predators in the Under 19 league.

After playing for Great Britain in the World Junior Championships, Luke iced the following season for the Stingrays again and the Great Britain under 18 and under 20 sides in the Worlds. He only played half a dozen games the following season in the re-named English Premier League for Hull before establishing himself in 2006 with Hull in the Elite League. One more season with the Stingrays saw him score 3 goals before he moved across the hills to Manchester Phoenix, who were in the Elite League that season. In that last season in Hull, Luke represented the GB Senior side in the World Championships Division 1.

Luke stayed loyal to Phoenix in 2009 when they moved to the English Premier League and he was rewarded with the Captaincy, a position he has held ever since. He, of course, captained the team to the EPL championship trophy in 2010/11.

Luke is renowned for his cool, calm attitude on the ice. Nothing seems to faze him as he just gets on with his job. Recognised as one of the best British defencemen in the league, Luke will take his appearances in Phoenix colours over the 250 mark in the coming season.

Luke spoke to Press Officer jim Piper at the shirt launch event on Sunday night: "I am very happy to be back in Phoenix colours for another season. It really says it all for me when a player and club have a long relationship like we have. It really is a good fit for me, and must be for the club to be asked back again. It is good to hear nice things about yourself, especially from the coach. I just get on with my job in my own way and hope to carry the momentum forward from last season and maybe even add to my scoring streak. The team is shaping up well and with absolutely no disrespect to those players we have replaced, I think we have more than adequate replacements. It looks like we have added some grit to the forwards along with speed and good hands. It all bodes well for the new season."

Coach Hand said:  “I thought Luke was our most consistent player last season. Totally reliable every night.  His game came on superbly last year and got himself among the goals as well. He is great in the dressing room and I am very pleased to have him back.”

Player Profile

• Profile for Luke Boothroyd