THE BASINGSTOKE Bison unveiled their new shirt designs, as well as their captain and alternate captains for the forthcoming season last Sunday.

A host of Herd fans gathered in the Q’s Bar in the Basingstoke Arena, as Bison head coach Steve Moria and assistant/coach Tony Redmond showed off the club’s jersey designs.

Moria than announced that summer signing Nicky Chinn would be the Bison’s captain for Basingstoke’s first ever season in the English Premier League.

The vastly experienced forward wore the C last season with the Slough Jets and Moria feels he will do the job just as well for the Herd.

He said: “Chinny is a great leader both on and off the ice and I sure it will be a great captain for this club.”

The two Bison players who will wear the As on their shirts will be defenceman Sam Oakford, a summer signing from Bracknell, and forward Tom Long, a capture from Wightlink Raiders.

Talking about these appointments, Moria said: “Tom is a great guy in the dressing room, while Sam is one of those players whose leadership comes from the way he plays the game.”

Also joining the Bison is new bench coach Craig Moran as he once again links up with Moria having done this job for a number of years with the Slough Jets.

Bison boss Moria said: “With Tony and myself playing it is important to have another pair of eyes on the bench to see what is going one. He has a huge amount of experience and will be another good addition to the club.”

This weekend, the Bison’s two remaining imports, Mindy Kieras and Ondrej Lauko, fly into the country and the rest of the British players arrive in town as the team gears up for their opening game against Bracknell on Saturday September 12 (6.30pm). The following night (6.30pm) the Basingstoke Buffalo open their English National League campaign with a visit from the Wightlink Tigers. Before that, with a 4.40pm face-off, the under-16 Bison entertain Slough.