THE Basingstoke Bison have signed Czech defenceman Jakub Barton as a replacement for Miro Vantroba.

This will be the first time 35-year-old has played outside his home land, but he did play on the same team as the Bison's other new import Petr Polodna last year at SK Horacka Slavia Trebic.

The new blue line will bring a wealth of experience to the Herd, having played nearly 600 games and collected 185 points in the Czech 2 league.

He was the top goal scoring defenceman in 2011/12 in this league for HC Olomouc being captain of the team for four years and helping them to promotion in 2013/14.

Bison head coach Doug Sheppard is pleased with his new signing and said: "I was looking for a player to fit into the team and in Jakub I feel I have found this."