Ones to Watch VS Bristol Pitbulls 31st December

Wildcats One to Watch – Chris Jones

The player to keep an eye on for home fans tonight is a British forward that has been a consistent member of the Wildcats since the 2017-18 season, having previously played for Swindon during the 2012-13 season. Chris Jones has been an ever present in the Wildcats top 6 since he arrived, a player responsible at both ends of the ice and sure to be a key player once again this season.

Born in Cardiff Jones began his playing days in the Cardiff Devils junior system, he made his senior hockey debut with the Cardiff Dragons in the ENL when he was just 16 years old. For the next 4 years Jones played in the ENL with Cardiff and he scored 172 points in 130 games, including 60 goals.

These performances did enough to earn him a call up to the Elite league Devils team, Jones spent 4 years playing in the Elite with Cardiff and during his time there he played in 205 games, scoring 17 points along the way. While this was an achievement to play in the Elite consistently for Brit in an import dominated league, when Swindon came calling with an opportunity to have more responsibility on a team at a lower level he jumped at the chance and Jones has more than repaid the faith shown in him by the Wildcats.

This season is the 5th consecutive that Jones will have suited up for the Wildcats and up to this current season he has played 165 games, scoring 219 points including 80 goals. So far this year Jones has played in 24 games and scored 30 points including 15 goals. These consistent performance levels have made Jones a reliable player that can always be counted on and I’m sure he will deliver once more tonight and in the upcoming season.

Pitbulls One to Watch – Ed Bradley

Tonight’s one to watch is a young British defenceman who had a great debut year with the Bees last season, Edward Bradley signed for the Pitbulls in the summer due to his university studies and he’s done a good job in leading the teams defence so far.

Bradley started his career coming up through the junior system in Guildford, but he moved over to Canada to develop himself and finish his career as a junior. While playing over the Atlantic, Bradley was involved regularly with the Great Britain junior programmes. He played in three tournaments with GB Under-18s and in his second tournament the team secured the gold medal, he also won two personal awards: most goals by a defenceman and most points by a defenceman in the tournament.

In the 2018-19 season he was selected to play for both the Under-18 and Under-20 Great Britain teams. With the Under-20’s he won a bronze medal to add to his gold won a year earlier and with the GB Under-20s he won a silver medal in the 2019-20 season. That makes 3 medals won with Great Britain’s junior sides and shows his enormous potential for his senior career.

Last season saw Bradley sign for the Bees for his first taste of senior hockey in the UK, his performances were absolutely superb. Bradley has firmly established himself as a point scoring defenceman in the NIHL. Bradley scored 43 points in 46 games during his debut season which is outstanding on a struggling Bees side.

So far this season playing for a Pitbulls side surprising everyone he has managed 22 points in 27 games which would put him on pace for a similar season to last season where he was selected to the first all star team in the NIHL.

This means the Wildcats will need to keep special tabs on not just the Pitbulls forwards but also this dangerous offensive defenceman.