Tom Watkins: Expect home grown talent at Telford Tigers
Fans of Telford Tigers can expect to see plenty of home-grown players on the ice over the next few years, according to head coach and general manager Tom Watkins.
The reformed Tigers are having to cut their cloth accordingly as the English Premier League champions prepare for their first season in the NIHL North, which has replaced the Premier League as the second tier of British ice hockey.
And Watkins believes that will lead to plenty of opportunities to young Telford-based players.
“You’re going to see a lot more local players on the ice over the next three years,” Watkins told viewers of a Tigers Facebook Live video. “We’ve got a lot of local guys in the seconds and a few into the first team. As we progress, that’s going to be more evident.
“We don’t have the budget to attract players to bring them from the outside. Around the league, players seem to be playing a lot closer to home.
“We’re cutting our cloth and building from the base up.”
Watkins also revealed season ticket details should be announced in the coming days, along with things like sponsorship packages and thanked the fans for their patience and support as the new management team get to grip with the administration side of running the club.
