CANADIAN Austin Sutter has signed up to play for the Basingstoke Bison as head coach Ryan Aldridge continues to build a side capable of challenging for honours in the coming season.

The left-wing forward, who will turn 23 later this month, joins the Herd from Texan outfit Amarillo Gorillas, having scored 24 goals for them in the Central Hockey League (CHL) last season.

Aldridge is pleased to have signed Sutter and expects him to make a real impact in the Elite League.

"Austin is a skilled left-winger," the head coach said. "He is an exciting signing for us.

"He wants to come to this country to make a name for himself and I think this could be the year to do it.

"The side I am putting together should do well in the Elite League and Austin is a player who will help us to do that."

Sutter was born in Alberta, Canada, and began his ice hockey career playing for the Powell River Kings in the British Columbia Hockey League before crossing the border to the US, where he attended Minnesota State University.

On leaving university in 2006, he had a short spell at the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs before switching CHL sides by moving to Texas.

Sutter spent the best part of two seasons with the Amarillo Gorillas, playing 132 games, scoring 44 goals and being credited with 57 assists.

He played alongside another recent Bison signing, defenceman Trevor Read, while with the Gorillas - something his new coach sees as a major plus.

"Trevor speaks very highly of him and it will be an advantage to have two new guys who know one another out on the ice," Aldridge said.

The Bison can now boast strength in depth on the left side of attack, with Sutter joining Great Britain international Greg Chambers.

"It is good to have two high-quality left wingers and I plan to play Austin on the second line," said Aldridge, who is hoping to be able to field a full-strength squad of three lines for the entire campaign. "He will probably play alongside two imports, but it is possible that Mark Richardson will feature on that line as well," Aldridge added.

4:54pm Friday 4th July 2008

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