BASINGSTOKE Bison Doug Sheppard is determined to find the right import defenceman to replace fans’ favourite Miro Vantroba.

The Slovak had been set to return this season to the Herd for a fourth campaign, but has now decided to stay in his homeland with his young family.

The Herd fans will certainly miss the blue line bullets Vantroba used to dish out.

Sheppard said: “I fully understand Miro’s reasons for not returning and I have now started the search for his replacement.

"I am not going to rush things I have to make sure I get the right man for the team.

"So it could be a few weeks and we may even start the league campaign an import down.”

For the Bison this should not hurt them too much, as they have an excellent British quintet of defenceman in Joe Baird, Kurt Reynolds, Declan Balmer, Stuart Mogg and new summer signing Lewis Turner from Bracknell.

Sheppard said: “We have built a team with more depth this season and I am happy the five man D core will be able to do the job.”

Last night the Herd fans got their first chance to see summer signings Turner, Dan Davies, Vanya Antonov and new import Petr Polodna in action, as they opened their pre-season campaign with a trip to the Link Centre to face the Swindon Wildcats.

They included new signing Ben Davies, a former Bison, who is icing with the Wiltshire side, before heading to North American to try out for a place in the ECHL.

On Saturday (6.30pm), the Bison are on home ice for the first time this season, as they entertain local rivals the Guildford Flames.

This will see the sides which won the EPL trophies go head-to-head early in the season. The Bison of course are the reigning league champions, while the Flames won the cup and play-off double.

Guildford have not really made many changes to their line-up and the Herd will once again have to find a way past Finnish shot stopper Richard Ullberg the only man to record a shut-out in Basingstoke last season.

They have one new import in Slovak sniper Marek Maslonka, while the other three foreign forwards are the returning Jens Eriksson, Matic Kralj and Marcus Kristoffersson.

There are two new additions to the Flames' Brit pack in defenceman Sam Waller and goalie Michael Will.

After Saturday’s home game the Bison will travel to Guildford on Sunday for the return game.

The Herd then continue their pre-season with a home game against Swindon on Wednesday September 7 (7.30pm).

Bison boss Doug Sheppard said: “We are looking forward to getting going and in Guildford and Swindon, we are up against two of the teams who I feel will be challenging us this season. “