The off-ice report

Monday, 1st May 2006

Former Manchester Storm netminder and recent player-coach of Basingstoke Bison Mark Bernard has provided us with the biggest surprise of the week by requesting to be released by the Bison a mere three weeks after signing on with them for another season. Bernie will be returning to the AHL next season as he takes up a post as Assistant General Manager with the Norfolk Admirals, a feeder team for the Chicago Blackhawks. "It's a great opportunity for me to be part of the AHL and Norfolk Admirals," says Bernie. "Myself and my family will be really sad to leave Basingstoke as we have made great friends here, it has been a mixture of emotions over the last couple of days and probably one of the hardest decisions of my life to make."

Basingstoke are currently looking for a replacement head coach, and are hoping to have made a decision in the next four to six weeks.

Cardiff Devils have announced the return of Gerad Adams for another season with the Welsh team. Adams served as team captain in the 2005-2006 season, and has put pen to paper for another season of British hockey, having first come to these shores as a member of the London Knights in the 2001-2002 season. Adams will also be staying in Cardiff this summer, along with defenceman Mike Garrow, to help with the coaching of the Devils junior teams in a development system that has produced players such as Phil Hill and Jonathan Phillips, both of whom have had regular ice time with the Devils.

Following the departures last week of Dan Welch and Evan Cheverie, Coventry Blaze are saying goodbye to another of their players this week, with the news that defenceman Andreas Moborg has signed for German team EV Regensburg.

Sheffield Steelers have announced that they will be playing an exhibition game in Germany this September, accepting the invitation of Bietingheim Steelers. Coach Dave Whistle is looking forward to the trip, saying "We are delighted to be going to Germany, we will practice the week before and play a couple of exhibition games before flying out. It is always good when you go on a trip like this, having a new team it will really help gel the guys together."

by Richard Allan

News

The off-ice report