THE Basingstoke Bison have added even more steel to their blue line with the re-signing of Tom Ralph.

The 25-year-old certainly became a fans' favourite in his first season with the Herd.

Ralph, who hails from Hull and came right through the city's ice hockey programme to play in the Elite League for the Stingrays and then went onto a appear for the Hull Pirates in the English Premier League.

He then spent two campaigns in Kent with the Invicta Dynamos helping them win the play-off in his first year and then in his second year enjoyed a career high of 25 points which included five goals.

Last season, his first in the Bison shirt, Ralph who stands 6ft 3in tall, topped the blue scoring goalscoring hitting the net eight times, one better than also returning Adam Jones.

Bison player/coach Ashley Tait is delighted to have a key member of his defence back and said: "He will certainly add some size to our blue line and he had some other offers but decided to return to us which is great.

"He is one of our senior players at only 25 and is still developing and learning, so I am looking forward to another big year from him."