A key recommendation from a fellow coach and an impressive try-out has delivered a bonus import to Telford Tigers - former player Tomas Janak.

Tom Watkins explains: "When I started building the team I expected to have to go with three imports because we are on a limited budget and imports usually have housing costs.

"I admit when I first spoke to Tomas I didn't know much about him, because we hadn't played against each other. But he came along to our open try-outs and I was very impressed with him. He was head and shoulders the best player on the ice that day.

"All the people I spoke to about Tomas said he is a great guy and Peter Russell, who coached him at Swindon, highly recommended him, saying he was a good solid player.”

Shropshire fans will remember 27-year-old Slovakian Janak, who joined the old Wildfoxes team in 2004 as a defenceman and spent a further year as a Tiger before moving to Solihull and then Swindon, where he had a superb season. He followed this up with a year in Dijon in the French League. He will be joining Tigers this time as a forward, his preferred position.

"What's more, Tomas is living in Solihull, so will travel with the other guys from there, and that enabled me to add his talent and depth," said Watkins. "And because we don't have to fly him in and house him, that lets me sign the full four imports within our budget. He gives me so much more talent and depth than I expected to be able to put on the ice."

Watkins is not ready to reveal his fourth and final import - who will line up with Janak, fellow Slovak Marek Hornak and Latvian Andrejs Maslovskis - but says the paperwork is close to completion.

He added: "Tomas has played in some decent leagues overseas, including in Slovakia and France, and I understand he spent some time last year in the US before picking up an injury. He has plenty of experience of different hockey cultures, he has good presence on the ice, and already has a rapport with our local guys. I think he will help us a lot.

"Tomas is a really good pick-up. I am so glad he came to the try-outs."

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