THE Basingstoke Bison have added more depth to their line-up with the signing of Alan Lack, Alex Sampford, Daniel Lackey and Jacob Ranson on two-way deals.

The deals mean they can play for the Herd when their parent clubs are not involved in National Hockey League action.

All four are set to be in the Bison line-up for their pre-season campaign, which continues with a double-header weekend against local rivals the Guildford Flames this weekend.

The first game is in Basingstoke on Saturday (6.30pm) and the return is in Guildford on Sunday (6pm).

Lack is no stranger to Bison fans and has plenty of English Premier League experience with Bracknell and Peterborough, where last term he scored six times in 28 games

The hard-hitting forward will play for the London Racers this season.

Bison head coach Doug Sheppard said: “He a real energy guy and due to his work is unable to commit to a full EPL season, but he is a great pick-up for us.”

Basingstoke-born teenager Sampford played for the Bison last season in the English Cup and having started the campaign with the Basingstoke Buffalo, picked up a point a game for the Solent Devils.

This year he will ice for the Wightlink Raiders.

Sheppard said: “He is a local guy who is a very good young player and is someone for the future.”

Another Basingstoke-born player is defenceman Daniel Lackey, who scored for the Herd in the EPL in 2011.

He will once again suit up for the Buffalo this year.

Sheppard said: “He is in excellent shape and has trained with us all summer and I am looking for him to be our sixth defenceman.”

Ranson, a 20-year-old forward with Invicta, is a new face to Bison fans. He scored 13 goals in 36 games for London last season.

Sheppard said: “He shows a lot of potential and is another one we will be looking at for the future.”

Looking ahead to the games against Guildford, Sheppard said: “They have a made a few changes and are very strong.

“It will give us a good measure as to where we are at this point of the season.”