THE Basingstoke Bison have made a double re-signing this week with the return of top British defenceman Kurt Reynolds and Slovak sniper Rene Jarolin.

Both players played key roles in the Herd’s English Premier League championship winning season and Bison fans will be delighted to see them back for this coming campaign.

Basingstoke-born Reynolds is rated as one of the best home grown blue liners in the EPL which is why he made the League's All Star Team last term.

The 29-year-old will suit up for a ninth straight campaign in Basingstoke having joined the Herd in their final season in the Elite League.

He is a fans’ favourite who goes about his job in the back division with ease and is a joy to watch being a master of his trade.

Bison head coach Sheppard said: “Kurt was one of our key players to re-sign and was even better last season. He is as solid as they come and always wins his battles on the ice."

Jarolin joined the Herd mid term last season from the Milton Keynes Lightning, having looked to have lost his scoring touch.

Once in a Bison uniform it returned, as the 34-year-old scored 24 times in just 35 games for the Bison and also picked up 27 assists.

Combined with his points from MK he finished his first ever English Premier League campaign with 73 points.

A former top goal scorer in the Elite League with the Edinburgh Capitals, the Slovak shooter could well top 40 goals next season in a Bison uniform and Herd head man Doug Sheppard is really pleased to have him back and said: “He is an extremely gifted and smart player, he proved to be a great pick up for us and is a big game player who scores big goals."

He will be one of five Bison imports, as the EPL announced yesterday they would be increasing the number from four to five.