The WALDECK Peterborough Phantoms are pleased to announce the development partnership with the Nottingham Lions NIHL 1 has been extended for another season!
The partnership with the Lions was a huge success last season providing a crucial stepping stone for developing British players and enabling important ice time in their progression to senior hockey. This season we aim to aid young players from Lions that have the talent and drive to play at a senior level by welcoming them along to our pre-season training camp.
Our first prospects to be joining the Phantoms on the development partnership are 17-year-old James Mather, and 17-year-old Tyler Somerton! James and Tyler will join the Waldeck Peterborough Phantoms for the 2 week pre-season training camp, alongside Peterborough junior prospectsMathew Saville, and Nicholas Martin. Both James and Tyler will feature in our first pre-season fixtures against Raiders and the Telford Tigers!
Peterborough Phantoms Assistant Coach Tom Norton commented:“We are really pleased and excited to continue the development pathway partnership with the Nottingham Lions, after a really successful first season of working together.
The pathway is all about introducing young players to the next level, and exposing them to a semi professional environment. We do this through training and opportunities to dress in games to have the full experience.
This allows us, as coaching staff, at both Peterborough and Nottingham to evaluate them over a 4 week period. We then feedback what areas of their game they need to focus and improve on to take back to Nottingham, and aspire to make it to the next level and hopefully guide them on their hockey journey, to reaching their full potential.We look forward to continue working with new and familiar faces.”
Nottingham Lions Head Coach Matt Bradbury commented: “We regularly speak with Slava (Koulikov) and Tom (Norton) sharing ideas and our collective vision is strong. We are looking forward to showcasing more of our junior talent over the forthcoming season. The partnership we had last season was just the start and it can only go from strength to strength.
The Phantoms coaching team has vast experience both nationally, internationally and something our players will really learn from as well as working with higher calibre of players that again can pass on encouragement and knowledge of the game.
Like all youth players it’s important that they are nurtured correctly and not just sold a dream. Each time our players had a spell with the Phantoms last season they came back with such a spring in their stride and you could see the hardwork and standards Slava expects really paid off back with us at the Lions.”