THE Basingstoke Bison have made a triple whammy of new signings as they look to get themselves back into the title race.

The Herd will have Joe Rand, Joe Miller and Dan Scott all pulling on a Bison jersey for the first time this season in the home local derby clash with the Guildford Flames on Saturday (6.30pm).

It certainly shows that head coach Doug Sheppard is going to do his upmost make sure the Bison have a real shot at defending their league crown, as once again he has shown he is not afraid to make changes.

Sheppard said: “We have the best defensive record in the league, but at moment we just cannot seem to score goals. Bringing in Randy (Joe Rand) and Joe Miller will definitely help us.

“Randy scores ugly goals getting to the net making things happen and Joe Miller is a proven goal scorer. Our D core is strong and by adding Dan Scott we have made it even stronger, so I am very excited about the look of the team going forward.

Rugged Canadian forward Rand is back in the line-up after the Bison released import Jan Jarabek last weekend for disciplinary reasons which the club will not comment on further.

Rand is no stranger to Basingstoke having played in both the double winning and league winning campaigns.

Last year, he took a step back from playing due to work commitments, but is back until Christmas.

In his four years with the Herd he scored over 150 points becoming a firm fans’ favourite.

The Bison fans will also be delighted to see top British forward Joe Miller back.

The 31-year-old spent two and half seasons with the Herd between 2011 and 2014, before his move to the Telford Tigers, from where he returns.

He won the title with Shropshire side in his second season, the third time the forward has won the English Premier League crown.

When last in Basingstoke, Miller was the team’s leading scorer in his first season netting 30 times.

He was also their top British goal scorer in season 13/14 with 25 goals to his name.

Miller is excited to return and said: “When I left Basingstoke I always said I would love to come back in the future. I am really looking forward to playing in front of the Bison fans again and they have always been so supportive to me even when I left the club.”

British defenceman Scott is new to the Bison and the 24-year-old from Chatham has also joined from Telford, where he was a member of their league championship winning side in season 2014/15.

He started his career at Invicta and made his EPL debut for Telford on 2010 and spells at Coventry and Hull in the Elite League and then Slough, before he return to Telford.

For Scott it means a quick return to Hampshire having played for the Tigers last weekend in town and said: “Basingstoke is a nice big rink and I am looking forward to playing there. I see it as a fresh start and I am looking forward to helping them move up the table. There is a lot of hockey to be played before the end of the season.”

All three play in the Bison’s only game of the weekend against Guildford, and the Herd will be hoping it is third time lucky having lost to the Flames in their two previous league meetings.

They will be without forward Vanya Antonov as he on GB under-20 duty in Budapest.

Talking about the game, Sheppard said: “ We know Guildford are a good team, but with the new guys in the line-up, we want to carry on our good form at home.”