THE Basingstoke Bison have made a double swoop from their English Premier League rivals Telford Tigers and signed two of their best forwards, Tomas Karpov and Tim Burrows.

The pair linked up really well last season for the Shropshire outfit after Karpov arrived from his native Czech Republic, and they were one of the reasons the Tigers finished the year so strongly.

That was Karpov’s first campaign in Britain and the centreman, who is predominantly a playmaker, returned 38 points from just 23 games.

The 24-year-old started his career with HC Sparta Praha and was also a Czech junior international before he spent two seasons in North America in the Western Hockey League, where he played for Moose Jaw Warriors and Calgary Hitmen.

Karpov then returned to his homeland to play in the top tier with Praha and then went on to play in the Czech second division.

Burrows grew up in Telford and came through the Tigers’ junior programme before moving to Cardiff, where he spent one season playing for Devils in the Elite League.

He returned to the Tigers last season and was their leading goal scorer with 21 goals in a points tally of 41.

Bison player/coach Sheppard said: “These are two more excellent additions to the team and they already have an understanding. Karpov took time to adjust to this league, but once he did he had a lot of success.

“Burrows is a high energy player and is a 20-goal a season man, which is not easy to find.”

New signing Burrows is excited about coming to Basingstoke and said: “Doug told me about his plans and looking at the team it looks very good. I want to increase the physical side of my game and dish out more big hits.

“I think there is a chemistry with Karps and he is pretty awesome. He is a playmaker, but he can still score goals.

Herd player/coach Sheppard has from the start of the summer said he was looking to build a team with three balanced forward lines and with the signings of Karpov and Burrows it is clear he has achieved this.

It gives the Bison boss plenty of options and the most likely starting lines will see the two new guys link up with Aaron Connolly. Joe Rand, Joe Miller and Andy Melachrino will make up another unit, while Sheppard, Joe Greener and Nicky Chinn could be the third.

All three forward lines should be capable of doing damage and with Cameron Wynn and Stuart Mogg waiting in the wings, the depth the Herd lacked last season is no longer an issue.

Sheppard said: “I think we have three lines as good as any in the league and with 10 forwards playing a high tempo game I feel we will have a lot of success.”