BASINGSTOKE Bison fans will be delighted with the news that the Herd’s top British forward Joe Greener has signed for another season.

The 27-year-old Basingstoke-born player will also once again be assistant coach to the team and adds even more firepower to one of the top offensive units in the English Premier League.

Greener was the Bison’s joint top goal British goalscorer after hitting the net 25 times in 58 games on his way to a points tally of 71.

That put him second in the Herd’s scoring charts behind import Tomas Karpov.

Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard is delighted to have his right-hand man back and said: “Last season I think was the best I have ever seen Joe play.

“He is another big signing for us and one of the top players in this league.”

Greener was always going to return to the Bison and said: “It was no brainer for me to return.

“We were a team and it was like a family.

“I enjoyed playing every night, which is why you play better.

“I know teams like Guildford and Telford have spent a lot of money in the summer, but I still see no reason why we cannot be up there competing with them.”

The Herd line-up, which is almost complete, will hit the ice for the first time on Saturday, September 6 (face-off 6.30pm), when Guildford are the visitors for a pre-season challenge game.

Their league campaign opens the following weekend, when the Peterborough Phantoms are in town.