GREAT Britain junior international goalie Joe White has joined Basingstoke Bison for the coming season.

The highly-rated 19-year-old netminder arrives in Hampshire after two seasons in the English Premier League with Swindon Wildcats. Last year he also played for the Great Britain under-20 team in division one of the world championships.

The Sidcup-born shot-stopper will fill the role of back-up goalie at the club, replacing Dan Green, who has signed for the Sheffield Steelers for next season.

White is no stranger to the role, having done the job for the Wiltshire side for the past two seasons and he comes highly recommended by their coach, Peter Russell.

Bison head coach Ryan Aldridge, delighted with his new signing, said: "He is a good young goalie, who wants to prove himself and feels that a move into the Elite League is the right step for him.

"I have heard only good things about him and he did well for Swindon last season when he was called upon."

When the Bison sign an import goalie, he will play most of the season between the pipes, but White is sure to see some ice time during the campaign.

Aldridge said: "It is a difficult job being a back-up, but he knows what it is all about from being at Swindon. He is going to get the opportunity to play, and I am sure he will not disappoint."

Four Bison players not returning next season are defencemen Kyle Peto and David Vychodil and forwards Danny Stewart and Greg Wood.

Only British forward Wood will remain in the Elite League as he has signed for reigning champions Coventry.

Canadian Peto has joined Florida Everblades in the East Coast Hockey League, while Czech-born Vychodil is heading east to Russia where he joins HK Gazovik Tymen.

Canadian Stewart will ply his trade in Italy with SG Pontebba.

1:59pm Saturday 28th June 2008

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