THE FIRST new face for next season has been signed by the Basingstoke Bison after Ciaran Long put pen to paper this week.

The talented teenage forward is moving to the Herd from their Berkshire rivals, the play-off winning Slough Jets.

The Birmingham-born 19-year-old has already had two full seasons in the English Premier League, and last term recorded 40 points, including 19 goals for the Jets.

The previous year, playing for the Swindon Wildcats, he returned 32 points and is now determined to build on that in his first season in Basingstoke.

Long said: “I am really looking forward to playing for the Bison as I am good friend of Sam Oakford and he has told me only good things about the organisation.

“I enjoy playing on the big ice pads, like the one in Basingstoke, and I will get a little more ice time for the Bison. I think I can score 30 goals this season and get around 60 or 70 points.”

The new signing, who played all of his junior hockey at Swindon except for a short spell in Solihull, won the play-off crown with the Jets last season.

He added: “I can see no reason why Basingstoke cannot win some silverware this year.”

The teenager is also a successful junior Great Britain international, and he scored the winning penalty shot in Hungary to secure the under-20s a gold medal in Division 2A last December.

He is eligible to play for them again this season, and he was also part of the victorious under-18 side in Estonia in the spring of 2009.

Bison player-coach Steve Moria said: “Ciaran is an extremely skilful hockey player and one I believe Basingstoke fans will really enjoy watching next season.

“I believe he is getting better with every season that he plays and I look at him as an addition to our team - not replacing anyone.”