Having confirmed the news earlier that Owen Griffiths would be joining the Wildcats for the upcoming season, we caught up with him to find out his thoughts and feeling about heading to Swindon for the new season!


SW: Owen, firstly, welcome to Swindon, tell us how the move came about?


OG: It was a few years in the making to be honest, me and Aaron has spoken in the last few summers since I made the step to the elite league, we have always stayed in touch and always had a good relationship. It was always a motivation to stay playing at the highest level I could but, I want to make a few life changes and move a bit closer to home. I know Swindon have always been up there pushing for trophies and I am hoping to help get them some silverware this year!


How was your year in Manchester last year?


A bit of an up-and-down season really, we had some good moments and some special moments in the year. Winning some big games and almost got over the line was making in the playoffs but fell short. You learn from those kinds of seasons, and I think Manchester will have a good year next year.


How do you feel about the adjustment from the EIHL to the NIHL? There will be an expectation for bigger minutes and shifts in all situations again.


There will be, but that is a big, big motivation to to make the move to Swindon. To be honest I follow bits and parts of the National League, and I have friends who I played with alongside for years that I always track and check out how they are doing.


There have been some changes since the old EPL days, and I am sure Swindon will be different to my last time here too but seeing some of the names staying the league shows you the standard of it, and I am excited to play in those roles this year. I do think with the import level rising, the standard will continue to improve again.


There are a few ex-teammates of yours signed already in Glenn Billing and Ben O’Connor to name two, what will be playing alongside them again be like for?


Oh, it will be fun! I obviously played with Benny in Guildford, and we had a good year that year. We finished second and just short in the final weekend of winning the league so hopefully we can both go one step further in Swindon this year. He is also coming off a good year with GB, so I have no doubt he will be flying when we get going.


Glenny again, I played with him at Peterborough, and we had a great relationship there. He is an awesome dude, and I can see why Swindon fans are such big fans of his! You could say it will be fun getting the band back together!


For those who have not seen you play before, how would you describe your game?


I am a two-way forward. I try and use my speed as much as I can and try and play with what is between my ears! I want to help the team anyway I can, be that offensively or defensively. I want to be able to use my speed to make plays in open situations and hopefully put the puck in the back of the net a few times too!


Would it be safe to say you’re game has developed since your last spell in Swindon?


Yes, absolutely. It has been almost ten years since I was here, and the league is different. I have played a lot of hockey and a lot more games under my belt now so yes, my game has developed since I was last here for sure. From the conversations I have had with people no-one has ever said a bad thing about Swindon, and that made the decision quite an easy one in the end.


Have you got a message for the Swindon fans?


It will be good to see everyone again. I am really pleased to be back in Swindon again. I know it has been a long time, but it will be fun being a Wildcat again for the next season and hopefully we can bring some silverware back to the Link Centre too!