THE second new face to join the Basingstoke Bison this summer, has been announced this week, with the signing of Edgars Landsbergs, writes Graham Merry.

The forward joins the Herd after helping the Milton Keynes Lightning make the final of the play-offs last season.

He finished the campaign with 10 points from all competitions.

His record against the Bison in his five games was a lot more impressive, as he scored in his first two appearances and then picked up an assist in game three.

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The Latvian born forward is classed as a British player having played his junior hockey in Coventry and one season in Swindon.

The 23-year-old then spent two years in Canada between 2016 and 2018 in their junior leagues, before moving across the border to play for the Philadelphia Hockey Club.

He then returned to Canada and suited up for the Bradford Rattlers in the GMHL returning 17 points from 38 games.

For the 2020/21 campaign he was back in Europe and played for MKS Cracovia Krakow in Poland’s second tier, where in 10 games he picked up eight points before Covid hit.

Last year was his first season in Britain as part of the Milton Keynes Lightning.

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Bison head coach Ashley Tait is pleased with his latest addition to the Herd and said: “He is a well rounded player and will certainly add some depth to our line-up.

“Like everyone on the team he will be given the opportunity to play up and down the line-up.”

The Bison still have a second import forward to announce ahead of their pre-season campaign, which starts on the first weekend of September against arch local rivals the Bees.