Ben Nethersell to continue with Wildcats

By Barrie Hudson - 17 June 2021

Sport

The Bespoke Guardians SwindonWildcats have announced that Ben Nethersell will be playing in the 21/22 season.

Ben properly broke through into the senior Wildcats side in 2016 after graduating from the Okanagan Hockey Academy. 

Whilst he had made a handful of appearances before that year, the 16-17 season was his first senior season of ice hockey  and he put up 15 points in 38 games.

Since then, the 23-year-old has spent each season in Swindon and has grown into a crucial part of Aaron Nell’s team. During the 19/20 campaign Ben was awarded the Most Improved Player after the season ended abruptly thanks to the pandemic.

He’ has played over 200 games for the club and represented his country on two occasions  at world championships.

Head Coach Aaron Nell said: I’m really happy to have Ben back in the team for another year. He was a stand out name for my Most Improved Player award in 2019/20, and he backed that up with some strong Spring Cup performances. 

"It will be exciting to see how he develops over what we hope will be a more normal season.

"Ben is still young and he’s still learning the game, he has the ability to move the puck and his responsibility has grown in the last couple of years. 

"I’m looking forward to working with him again, and I know how eager he is to get going. I hope this will be a big breakout year for Ben."

Ben said: "It was a really easy decision to sign here again. Swindon feels like home now and I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather play. 

"I can’t wait to have some normality back in my life. It feels like ages since playing in proper competitive games and it’ll be great being back with the boys.

"It was strange playing in the spring cup behind closed doors, and seeing other sports now with the fans back makes me even more excited to have fans back in the Link Centre. It makes a huge difference on game night. 

"I want to continue my development with the team, keep pushing forward, working hard and moving up the line up next year."

Once again Ben will be sponsored by Clements Building Contractors, a building firm based in Blunsdon.

Information about sponsorship can be obtained by emailing [email protected]

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