THE forward line of the Basingstoke Bison has been beefed up with the addition of gritty forward Ryan Watt.

The 25-year-old from Tadley has played for the Herd before, during the club’s time in the Elite League and most recently played for the Bison’s English Premier League rivals Bracknell Bees.

Last season, he played for Swindon Wildcats, where he returned 34 points from 42 games.

He has also had previous spells at Bracknell, as well as being part of three trophy-winning teams for Slough.

Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard is delighted to have signed a player who was part of his play-off winning team when in Slough in 2012.

Sheppard said: “I have coached Ryan (Watt) before and he is a high-energy player with a physical presence. He is a very skilled player as well and played his part in the play-off success in Slough.”

Watt, who was in the crowd for the Bison’s win over Manchester on Saturday, is looking forward to pulling on a Herd shirt again.

The new Basingstoke forward said: “I am looking forward to once again playing for the Bison and I hope I can help them have a successful end to the season.”

The addition of Watt comes in the week when the Bison have learnt that forward Grant Rounding will be sidelined for a few more weeks with a leg injury.

It also means that forward Michael Wales can be retained on defence, which gives the team a five-man blue line unit.

Sheppard said: “You can survive with a four man D, but when one of them takes a penalty you are only left with three. This should keep the defence strong.”

Watt will make his debut during Saturday’s visit of Milton Keynes Lightning (face-off 6.30pm).

The Herd will be looking to extend their home winning run to four games against a side that lost last time they were in Hampshire.

Sheppard said: “We know Milton Keynes are a hard-working side, but I want us to carry on the way we have been playing and get the result we want.”

On Sunday night, the Bison have a tough trip to Ice Sheffield to face the Steeldogs (face-off 5.30pm).

The Yorkshire side suffered their first loss in seven home games last weekend, when they were beaten by Manchester.

The winning streak began with a 7-4 win over the Bison, but hat-trick hero in that game, Jeff Legue, has since left the club.

Sheppard is not expecting an easy ride and said: “Sheffield are a very physical team and Janis Ozolins is going to be a threat. They also have some very good goaltending.

“It is a long road trip, but we have to be ready from the start and this time, find a way to win there.”