THE Basingstoke Bison have added another excellent young British forward to their line-up with the signing of Jake James Pitchley.

The 21-year-old, who is better known as JJ Pitchley, was the Bracknell Hornets’ top points scorer last season with 54, scoring 23 goals in the league directly below the English Premier League.

He ended the season as part of the Bracknell Bees’ squad and picked up an assist in their final game with the Bison at the Hive, which the Herd won 5-3.

Pitchley, a former Great Britain junior international, was born in Romford. He began his career with his local team before spells at Bracknell and Slough along with a season in the Western States Hockey League with the Dallas Snipers.

He is the third new face to join the Bison this summer and head coach Doug Sheppard said: “He is a young guy with the right attitude who will bring energy to the team and always finishes his hits. He gives us something else to put into the mix.”

Pitchley is looking forward to becoming the latest Bee to join the Bison and said: “I really can’t wait for the season to start. I know a few of the guys on the team and of course have played against the Bison, so I know what they are all about.”

Two of last season’s Bison defencemen, Matt Selby and Brandan Baird, have signed for other teams the week.

Selby has joined the Herd’s EPL rivals Swindon and Baird will suit up for the Wightlink Raiders next season.

Last week, a number of the Bison players swapped their skates for aprons at one of the club’s main sponsors, Zizzi, all in the name of raising money for the Nepal Earthquake Appeal Disasters Emergency Committee.

It proved to be a great success as the Top of the Town restaurant raised £650 on the night.

Alex Cox, general manager of Basingstoke’s Zizzi, said: “It was a great evening and well supported by the Bison season ticket holders. We have a number of Nepalese staff and they were really pleased with what we were able to do.”

Bison boss Sheppard said: “The guys enjoyed the evening and it is always nice to do things as a club in the community.”

Herd season ticket holders or anyone with a match night tickets from last season can receive 20 per cent off their bill for up to six people.