STEVE Moria says that Basingstoke Bison fans should be excited about the signing of Czech forward Daniel Volrab – a former fourth-round NHL draft recruit.

The Dallas Stars drafted Volrab in 2001, after he impressed playing under-20 hockey for Sparta Prague in his homeland.

While the 28-year-old never played a match for the Stars, he moved on to the Saskatoon Blades and enjoyed two successful years in the Western Hockey League before returning to the Czech Republic.

Volrab has spent the last six seasons playing for HC Hradec Kralove in the second tier of Czech hockey, scoring eight goals and picking up 15 assists in the 2010-11 season.

Volrab and British defenceman Dan Harris were unveiled as Bison players during a meet-and-greet event at the Basingstoke Arena last night – and Bison player/coach Moria has high hopes for his new import.

“I think he is an exciting signing,” Moria said.

“It is sometimes hard for the fans because they do not know all about these players, but hopefully they will be happy when they see him play.

“People have spoken very highly of him and he was a fourth-round draft pick for the Dallas Stars 10 years ago.

“At that point he was destined for the NHL, and while things did not go his way, he has a good pedigree back in the Czech Republic.

“Everyone at the club wants to achieve something next season and I hope that this signing will give us something all-round.”

The signing of Volrab leaves Moria with just one import slot left to fill – meaning the end of the road at Basingstoke for at least one of Slovak pair Viktor Kubenko or Ondrej Lauko.

The duo have been the Bison’s main goal threat over the past two seasons, with Lauko finding the net 100 times in 110 games since 2009 and Kubenko scoring 49 goals during the last campaign.

However, at 34, Kubenko is unsure about spending another year in Britain, while Moria is still considering his options with regard to Lauko.

“It is looking unlikely that Viktor Kubenko will be back,” the Bison boss said.

“He is seriously thinking about retiring or possibly playing back home in Slovakia.

“He was one of our key players last year and I am keeping in contact with him to see what happens, but it does not look like he will come back to Basingstoke.

“I am trying to find the best available players.

“Ondrej Lauko has had a good couple of seasons and I am not ruling him out, but we are keeping our options open.”

The other player unveiled to Bison fans last night was |defenceman Harris, who joins the club from English National League outfit Whitley Warriors, where he has spent the last five seasons.

He played four games for the Newcastle Vipers in the Elite League last season, and Moria is sure that he will quickly settle in to life in the English Premier League.

“Dan is another guy with a lot of potential,” Moria said.

“He is a strong defender and also offers something going forward.

“I think he is more than capable of stepping up into the EPL and will get better as he goes along. He is one of the top guys in the league below, which has improved a lot in the last few years.”