Individual News
30th of April 2009
The Basingstoke Bison are delighted to announce the signing of British netminder Davey Lawrence.
The 24-year-old from Barnsley is rated as one of the top home grown goalies in this country.
The Yorkshireman having made his way up through the junior development at Sheffield, went on to play for the Steelers for four years in the Elite League and gained the recognition as one of the best back-up goalies in the top flight.
In his final year in Sheffield, he saw ice time twice against the Bison including in a game in Basingstoke, where the Herd forwards failed to beat him in 30 minutes in net as he turned away 17 shots.
Last season, the netminder who is one of the tallest in the country at 6ft 3in, played in English Premier League for the Telford Tigers as their starting goalie and returned an impressive save percentage of 90.1.
In his first year in Shropshire he also picked up the coveted players' player award at the end of the year.
He is another excellent signing for the team and Bison player/coach Steve Moria has first hand experience of trying to beat his new goalie having played against him last season.
Moria said: "Davey is a big goalie and he is difficult to score against as we found last year in Slough."
"He helped them into the top four early in the season, but injuries and departures meant it was tough going for him after Christmas and he faced a lot of shots."
Lawrence a former Great Britain junior international Lawrence who won gold at one World Championship said: "Last season I faced a lot of rubber, which was good for my game, but coming to Basingstoke it will be all about winning hockey games.
"I know the pressure will be on me to perform every night, but I enjoy that pressure and the Bison are putting together a very good team and I am looking forward to being part of it."
The 24-year-old from Barnsley is rated as one of the top home grown goalies in this country.
The Yorkshireman having made his way up through the junior development at Sheffield, went on to play for the Steelers for four years in the Elite League and gained the recognition as one of the best back-up goalies in the top flight.
In his final year in Sheffield, he saw ice time twice against the Bison including in a game in Basingstoke, where the Herd forwards failed to beat him in 30 minutes in net as he turned away 17 shots.
Last season, the netminder who is one of the tallest in the country at 6ft 3in, played in English Premier League for the Telford Tigers as their starting goalie and returned an impressive save percentage of 90.1.
In his first year in Shropshire he also picked up the coveted players' player award at the end of the year.
He is another excellent signing for the team and Bison player/coach Steve Moria has first hand experience of trying to beat his new goalie having played against him last season.
Moria said: "Davey is a big goalie and he is difficult to score against as we found last year in Slough."
"He helped them into the top four early in the season, but injuries and departures meant it was tough going for him after Christmas and he faced a lot of shots."
Lawrence a former Great Britain junior international Lawrence who won gold at one World Championship said: "Last season I faced a lot of rubber, which was good for my game, but coming to Basingstoke it will be all about winning hockey games.
"I know the pressure will be on me to perform every night, but I enjoy that pressure and the Bison are putting together a very good team and I am looking forward to being part of it."