THE Basingstoke Bison have beefed up their blue line by signing one of the top young British defencemen in the country Adam Jones.

The 22-year-old played in the Elite League last season for the Guildford Flames and Belfast Giants.

He pulled on a Flames jersey 12 times and a Belfast one five times, before finishing the season with the Telford Tigers in North One.

For the Shropshire outfit he scored on his last visit to Basingstoke in their 5-3 loss and also played against the Herd in the national play-off finals.

The 6ft 2in defender weighs in at just over 200 pounds and returned 21 points from 22 league games last season and 22 minutes in penalties The previous year also in Telford he helped them win the final English Premier League title.

Before this the former Great Britain junior international, played in Canada.

His last two years there were in British Columbia for Summerland Steam, who play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.

In both his seasons with the team he picked up the award for both defenceman.

New Bison player/coach Ashley Tait is delighted with his latest addition and said: β€œHe gives us size at the back and moves the puck well.

"He has experience of playing in the Elite League and it was Belfast coach Adam Keefe who put me onto him.

"I spoke to my brother, who played with Adam at Telford last season, and he had only good things to say about him.”

Jones arrival takes the Bison defence up to two and Tait is busy looking to fill the remaining spots on his roster and has a number of offers out for other players.