This week the team had some great news with the decision by Brad Cruikshank to return to play for us next year.

When Brad first came to the UK we quickly learned how well-deserved his reputation was for toughness. When he returned for his second season, lighter and fitter, it soon became clear that here was a quality player with a whole range of skills to offer, as well as being someone always ready to stand up for his team-mates. His line, with Greg Owen and Greg Chambers, became one of the most effective in the league.

It wasn't a difficult decision for me to offer the captaincy to him this season. He's a leader on the ice and great in the locker-room.

This has been a very difficult year for all of us. Brad has always shown the grit and determination to face every setback. Several times I've written about how he will get back on the ice to get a point back for us if he's made an error. It's not just that he's a goal-scorer. He's a guy who will score the big goals at crucial points in the game and that's as much to do with character as skill.

I've obviously been planning for next season for some time and his return was key for me in building for the future.

I also know he's hugely popular with the fans. I'd like to think that one of the reasons we have doubled attendances is the type of hockey we play. Brad's never-say-die attitude is typical of the team. However many, or few, we have on the bench, we'll be playing honest, attacking hockey. That's what we enjoy and I think the fans do, too. I think that's why we've earned the respect of the fans; that's not something you can buy.

But I do hope that our injury problems cannot get any worse. As I looked along the bench on Saturday watching more and more spaces as the game progressed, I did wonder how many would be still standing by the end of the game. There has to be a limit to how deep we can dig!