YOUNGSTER Jordan Kelsall will continue to represent Swindon Wildcats next season after signing a dual deal with Elite League side Nottingham Panthers.

The 17-year-old was announced as the latest addition to the Panthers roster for the 2017/18 campaign yesterday and although he will be a full-time squad member in Nottingham, Kelsall will also play for Swindon as part of his ongoing development.

After graduating through Swindon’s Okanagan Hockey Academy, Kelsall made 32 appearances for the Wildcats last season, scoring eight goals and claiming four assists along the way.

Alongside icing for OHA and Swindon, he also iced for both Great Britain U18 and U20 in 2016-17.

Swindon head coach Aaron Nell said: “I’m delighted for Jordan that he has been rewarded with a contract from the Nottingham Panthers. Jordan was great for us last season and is exactly the type of player and person I want around the club.

“By the end of the last season, Jordan was in my top six forwards, playing important minutes at end of games, on the power-play and on the penalty kill.

“When Jordan plays with us next season, this will continue and he will have an even bigger role with us.”

“Moving forward, it is planned that the OHA, the Wildcats and the Panthers will forge an ongoing relationship focusing on young player development.

“We are very happy to have this partnership with Nottingham and the Okanagan Hockey Academy. We have already had six or seven players come to us from the OHA and now it is important to be able to progress young players to the next level,” said Nell.

“Corey (Neilson, Nottingham head coach) has a great track record of improving young players. One of our main focuses as a club is to develop young British talent and that will continue as we move forward.”