BASINGSTOKE Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard can be very satisfied with a job well done this season.

The Herd won two of the three trophies on offer in the English Premier League.

The Canadian forward who has already signed to return next season, now has the tough job of improving on the Herd for the start of the 2014/15 campaign in September.

It is not going to be an easy job and the success of his team has put Sheppard’s men in the shop window.

However, he is hopeful he can keep most of the Herd before they are snapped up by Elite League or other rival English Premier League sides.

Sheppard said: “This team is a great bunch of guys and I want to keep as many as I can. I don’t believe any of them will become complacent after winning trophies as they will want to win some more.”

The big strength this season of the Bison has been the depth of the squad, with three equal forward lines as well as a fourth line made up of young local Brits.

Added to this was a good core of six defenceman and top netminding from home-town boy Dean Skinns, who played every minute this season.

Sheppard said: “We had the chemistry and I was never afraid to switch things around. This was because we had the depth in the squad.

“The great local talent is also key going forward as they will play a bigger part each year.”

Talking about his shot stopper, Skinns, Sheppard said: “Not many believed in him, but he was outstanding against us the previous year and we saw with a good D core what he can do. He was ready to play every game and never let us down.”