BASINGSTOKE Bison have added two more netminders to their squad for the forthcoming season.

Dan Weller-Evans will be the Herd’s new back-up goalie behind starter Dean Skinns, with teenager prospect Jordan Lawday the team’s third shot stopper.

Both players live in Basingstoke and have come through the junior programme at the club.

Weller-Evans is looking forward to teaming up with Dean Skinns, a former next-door-neighbour when he lived in Brighton Hill.

The new goalie said: “I can’t wait to play alongside Dean. I know what my job is on the team and I will be training to make sure I am ready if I am needed.”

The 20-year-old, based in Hatch Warren, is a former Brighton Hill Community School pupil and last season was the back-up goalie for the Wightlink Raiders in National Hockey League South One, the league below the Bison.

He played with former Bison netminder Matt Colclough and recorded two shut-outs for the Ryde-based team in his fourth season on the island.

So he deserves the chance to move up to the English Premier League for the coming campaign.

Tadley’s Lawday was the starting goalie for the under-16 and under-18 Bison last season and picked up a fistful of man-of-the-match awards during the campaign.

The 15-year-old will be back stopping Basingstoke’s National Hockey League South Two side the Buffalo and under-18s this time around.

The former Costello School pupil will be attending BCoT in September and will train with the Bison twice a week.

Lawday is excited about the experience and said: “This is a great opportunity for me and I am really looking forward to it.”

The addition of two new goalies certainly gives Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard plenty of depth in this department.

Sheppard said: “They are two more Basingstoke players, which is great for the team and they have impressed me in training.

“Dan (Weller-Evans) is someone who always wanted to play for the Bison and has come here to improve and make the most of the experience.

“I am sure he will prove to be a good back-up goalie for the team.”

Sheppard said: “Jordan (Lawday) is a young goalie who will only benefit from training with us and if we need him we can put him in the line-up.”

The Bison’s previous back-up goalie, Basingstoke-born Connor Standing, has signed for National Hockey League South One side Solent Devils.