SWINDON Wildcats player-coach Aaron Nell is delighted to have filled his two import slots with Jan Kostal and Max Birbraer once again.

The Link Centre side retained the services of both imports over the weekend, with Kostal committing on Friday before Birbraer followed suit on Monday.

After their Autumn Trophy and NIHL Cup double last season, Nell has managed to keep hold the majority of last year’s triumphant roster.

Only three players will not be returning to the Link Centre for next term, as defenceman Ollie Stone opted for a move to Milton Keynes Lightening, while teenage duo Jordan Kelsall and Joe Hazeldine will remain with their parent club Nottingham Panthers.

Now that his roster is edging towards completion, Nell is more than happy with the crop he has put together.

With a blend between experience and youth, the Cats chief believes he has found a winning formula, with Birbraer and Kostal staying put to set an example for the club’s younger players.

“They are both players who we wanted to come back to the club and we are very happy with them,” he said.

“Max and Jan are very similar in a way that they both have lots of experience and they’re good people who work extremely hard.”

Both players are in the latter stages of their career, but Nell says that has no baring on their level of performance as they are still as influential as ever when they step onto the ice at the Link Centre.

“Max had a really good season last year, especially in the second half where he kicked on,” added the Wildcats boss.

“I think he got roughly 90 points at the end of the season.

“He’s a big player for us. He is big, he still skates really well and he’s tough to play against, which makes us tough to play against as a team.

“In the big games, they up their game. When we won the Autumn Trophy, Max and Jan were turning over the puck, and when your 37-year-old players are doing that, it’s easy to tell the younger players to do it as well.”