Doug Sheppard says new Bracknell Bees signing Tyler VanKleef is “going to make a big difference to our team”.
The Canadian arrives following a spell at Elite League side Nottingham Panthers and replaces David Millner, who departed the Bees last week.
Speaking exclusively to The Wokingham Paper, head coach Sheppard said: “Tyler is a guy that I’ve been talking to since August.
“As soon as I knew (Tomas) Karpov wasn’t coming I was in contact.
“He already skated with us and then I had an agreement with him that I would try and get him a look in the Elite League, which he did.
“He ended up spending the last three and a half months with Nottingham and played 20-25 games or so but unfortunately for him he got released a couple of weeks ago.
“Now he wants to get back on the ice and I think we’re bringing in an impact player at this league, no question.”
“He ended up spending the last three and a half months with Nottingham and had a try out there, played 20-25 games or so but unfortunately for him he got released a couple of weeks ago.
“Now he wants to get back on the ice and I think we’re bringing in an impact player at this league, no question.”
The 26-year-old, who also holds a British passport, began his ice hockey career with Canadian side Stoney Creek Warriors in 2009 before moving the USA with spells at Curry College, South Carolina Stingrays, Evansville Thunderbolts, Wichita Thunder, Wheeling Nailers and Rapid City Rush.
He moved to England this summer and featured regularly for the Panthers, scoring his first goal for the club in early December before his release.
VanKleef becomes the third new import with the Bees this season after Millner replaced Niko Suoraniemi in October, but Sheppard hopes his squad will now stay settled.
“Absolutely. I think with David coming in it was to buy a bit of time,” admitted the Bracknell head coach.
“It wasn’t probably a permanent move. I think David came in and did a good job for us but someone with Tyler’s pedigree, certainly bringing him in, a good character guy in the room as well, we’ll be bringing him in for the play-off push and we’ve got the cup semi-finals coming up so we’ve got some big games.
“I fully expect him to play a big part in all of our games coming up.
“We’ve got a big, big weekend starting with Swindon home and away so it will be great to get him in there and give us a boost.”
Bees go into this weekend’s double-header against Swindon Wildcats buoyed by a thumping 9-2 win at Invicta Dynamos on Sunday.
In-form Roman Malinik bagged a hat-trick in Gillingham against the league’s bottom side, which leaves Bracknell fourth in the NIHL South 1 standings, two points behind the Wildcats.
And Sheppard is under no illusions how difficult the next task will be.
“Invicta are struggling but we had just the one game this weekend,” he said.
“It was obviously a good result for us and we know it’s going to be a lot different this weekend coming up against Swindon.
“But we’ll be desperate for the four points.”
He added: “Saturday is going to be extremely tough.
“We haven’t been in Swindon yet this year. They are very tough at home so it’ll be just looking to take care of business on Saturday and then we get back on our home ice (on Sunday), where we have fared quite well against them.
“I think we’ve shown we can beat any team in the league and now we’re bringing in Tyler, I think it’s going to make a big difference to our team.
“We’re right there at the minute and if we can bring in a player that is going to give us a big boost and make a big difference to our line-up, I think it’s all positive looking forward into the finish before the Christmas break and then leading into the new year looks extremely positive for me.”
For more from Sheppard on the signing of VanKleef, the departure of Millner, victory over Invicta and his exclusive column ahead of this weekend’s double header against Swindon Wildcats, pick up a copy of The Wokingham Paper.
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