THE Basingstoke Bison have signalled their intent to challenge for honours next season by moving to re-sign two key players.

The Herd’s campaign came to an untimely end on Sunday, when they were beaten in the English Premier League play-off quarter-finals by the Manchester Phoenix.

However, Bison player/coach Doug Sheppard has wasted no time in beginning the rebuilding process, persuading top British forwards Ciaran Long and Joe Greener to commit to the club for 2015-16.

Long and Greener formed a lethal combination during the recent campaign.

Between them, they scored 51 league goals, with Long finishing as the Herd’s top scorer, just ahead of his line-mate.

In total, Long racked up 64 points, while Greener was not far behind, ending the season with 59 points to his name.

The pair would undoubtedly have been targets for every other EPL team, so Sheppard has done an excellent job to get both of them to re-sign for the Herd.

Sheppard said: “They are two of the top British players in the country in my eyes and were certainly at the top of my list of players I wanted to bring back.

“They are excellent penalty killers and bring a lot to the team both on the ice and in the dressing room.”

"After the way this season finished, it makes everyone hungrier to do well next season.

“Signing Joe (Greener) and Ciaran (Long) is a great start for us to reach this aim.”

In the league campaign just finished, Greener and Long were part of the big Bison scoring line, along with Sheppard.

Long scored 33 league goals in a points tally of 64 and Greener netted 28 times as he ended up on 59 as the pair finished one and two in both categories.

Both players are really pleased to be coming back for another campaign in a Bison shirt.

Talking about his return Long said: “It was an easy decision to make as I really enjoyed last season in Basingstoke.

“Now it is time to focus on next year and bringing back some silverware again.”

Greener said: “I like playing in Basingstoke so it is great to be back for another year. Obviously being trophy-less was not good last season so this is something we will look to put right for the fans next season.”

Long’s performances over last season did not go unnoticed as he was selected as a member of the Ice Hockey Journalist UK’s second all-star team for the English Premier League.

Former Bison defenceman Zach Sullivan, who plays for Braehead in the Elite League, won the under-21 Player of the Year, while another former Herd man, Sheffield’s Ben O’Connor, was named British Defenceman of the Year.