DOUBLE award winner and Basingstoke Bison captain Aaron Connolly has become the reigning English Premier League champions first signing for the coming campaign.

The British-born leader is back for his third straight season with the Herd and last term was his best to date for the Gazette sponsored forward.

The 22-year-old scored 24 times in a career high points tally of 48 and he would undoubtedly have reached his half century if he had not missed the end of season play-off due to injury.

A leader both on and off the ice Connolly picked up the coveted Players’ Player award as well as the Bison Supporters’ Player of the Year . The only player to pick up more than one award.

The Northfleet-born forward is now very much a Herd fans’ favourite and enjoyed his first season as captain especially as he got to lift the EPL Trophy.

Connolly said: “It was a great year for the team and we are now one of the top teams in this league and I cannot see any reason why we cannot win more trophies this year.

“Winning the league title on home ice in front of our great fans was a night I will never forget. It was 23 years from the last time and I was born in that year, so I know it meant so much to everyone.

Connolly added: “I really enjoyed being captain, but we had a lot of leaders in the dressing room and everyone knew what their jobs were so it made my job easy.”

Talking about the injury which kept him out of the play-offs the Bison captain said: “I have been given the all clear for next season and will be back on the ice once the summer skates start and can’t wait for the new season to start.

The double award winner was surprised to be so successful at the end of season awards and said: “I was shocked to win two awards as there were so many players who could have won, but I was very pleased to win both."

Bison head coach Doug Sheppard is delighted with his first re-signing for the coming campaign.

Sheppard said : “Aaron is the captain of this team and the way he plays other players feed off him. He is a key member of the line-up, as we saw when he was out during the play-offs.