Finn will be Andy for Swindon Wildcats (From Swindon Advertiser)

Finn will be Andy for Swindon Wildcats

6:20am Monday 6th July 2009 in

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SWINDON Wildcats have added more youth to their 2009-10 roster after completing the signing of former Shefffield junior Andrew Finn.

The 18-year-old defenceman has been confirmed just days after Link Centre head coach Ryan Aldridge added local youngsters James Griffin and Loris Taylor to his line-up after launching the Swindon Wildcats Ice Hockey Academy (SWIHA).

Darlington-born Finn has represented Great Britain throughout his rise through the age groups but has spent the past two seasons in the United States, where his competed in the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, part of the National Hockey League’s franchise organisation in the city of Dublin.

Aldridge said: “Andy finds the right lanes to get the put to the net from the point, something that I think we had trouble with last year.

“He is a good, young, all-round defenceman who is only going to get better with the defensive core that he will be playing alongside.’’ Finn was also a member of two championship-winning sides in 2006 with the Sheffield Steelhawks in the Under 19's North Conference as well as the Sheffield Rapiers Under 16s side He subsequently had 11 starts in the English National League with the Sheffield Spartans before his stint in America.

Aldridge added: “Andy is another physically strong defenceman who can take the body and move the puck well.

Finn becomes the fourth new defenceman on the roster alongside Czech Jan Krajicek and fellow Brits Joe Baird and Yousif Abu Saada.

Aldridge also revealed he in talks with two further players, with a view to further signings in the near future.

Meanwhile general manager Steve Nell has revealed more about the Wildcats’ partnership with the town’s junior ice hockey club, which has resulted in the new academy.

Nell said: “The Wildcats have been working closely with the junior club for a number of years, assisting with the coaching and the coach development programmes “As the Wildcats in the Community and the junior organisation continued to grow it became clear that all would benefit from this structural change.

“(It is) something that will enable us to better deliver our programme of sport development to juniors and young adults, and one that further promotes our message effectively.’’