TEENAGE forward Adam Finlinson has departed Swindon Wildcats and has been snapped up by National Ice Hockey League North side Whitley Warriors.

The 19-year-old picked up 10 points during Swindon’s English Premier League campaign last season but has been released by the club.

Finlinson began his hockey career in the north east, briefly icing for the Northern Stars before turning out for Whitley Tomahawks and Braves, which earned him a place in Great Britiain’s U18 squad for the World Championships in both 2015 and 2016.

With Swindon dropping down to the National League South this summer as part of a league shake-up, Finlinson admitted that the draw of returning to his hometown club was too much to resist.

“A major factor in me moving back was the folding of the English Premier League, making teams from the English Premier League drop down to the NIHL,” he explained.

“If I was to play for any NIHL team it would be the Warriors as it’s my home team and where I played a lot of my junior years.

“Playing in the English Premier League in the past will help with my upcoming season as it was a five import league consisting of European players, therefore decisions had to be made quickly which made the games a lot faster.

“I am a strong skater with quick hands who has scoring ability, I can also make plays and pick a pass to create good chances. On the other hand, I need to be more physical and finish my checks.”