BASINGSTOKE Bison fans are sure to be delighted with the Herd’s first re-signing – top British defenceman Sam Oakford.

The blue liner excelled last |season, his first in a Basingstoke shirt, and that did not go |unnoticed by player/coach Steve Moria, who selected him as the Coach’s Player of the Year award.

As well as being a rock at the back for the Bison, the 19-year-old also helped Great Britain under-20s to gold in the World Championships division two.

Moria said: “ I am obviously delighted to have Sam back again next season. I asked him if he wanted to sign a two-year deal and he accepted.

“I think that shows how much faith he has in the Bison |organisation and the goals that we as a club are trying to set. Oaky is a very controlled and intelligent defenceman.”

He added: “He is the number one d-man in the GB under-20 set up, which underlines his importance to both country and club.”

Returning Oakford said: “I enjoyed my first season in Basingstoke and think we will do even better this time around and wanted to be a part of it.”

Oakford’s award was one of five presented last Wednesday at the annual Basingstoke Bison awards held at Wolfies.

British goalie Tom Annetts won the Players’ Player and British Player of the Year awards and was surprised to have done the double.

Annetts said: “I did not expect to win as there are so many good players in the dressing room. To win awards voted by your team-mates and by the fans it is really special.”

The club’s top goal scorer, Slovak sniper Ondrej Lauko, grabbed the Player of the Year award voted for by the Bison faithful.

Paul West, for all his hard work off the ice, won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Bison Hockey.

Last Sunday, The final trophy of the EPL season went to a Slough Jets team that included Tadley-based Ryan Watt, as they beat Guildford Flames 2-1 in the play-off final in Coventry.