SUMMER recruit Sam Jones believes he has joined the strongest side in NIHL South One as he prepares to start his first season with Swindon Wildcats.

Cats player-coach Aaron Nell brought Jones back to British ice hockey over the summer, with the 20-year-old having spent the 2016-17 campaign at Milton Keynes Lightning.

Although born in Birmingham, Jones spent his youth career in Canada and last season played for Summerland Storm in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.

Swindon won both the NIHL Cup and Autumn Trophy last season and Jones believes he could not be linking up with a roster in better shape.

“The guys did really well last season and it is good to be part of a good team – no one likes losing,” said Jones.

“When you see guys announced and read the articles and hear what people say about them, you get excited to work with them.

“I have played against a lot of the guys on the team so from what I have seen, it is a really good team on paper – better than any in the league, in my opinion.

“Hopefully we can live up to our expectation.

“The decision to come here was one of the easier ones I have had. I talked to Luc Johnson, as I have played with him before, and he just said really, really good things.

“It went like clockwork. As soon as they said ‘we’d like to have you’, I said ‘great’.”

Swindon begin the new campaign with a home and away double-header against Hull Pirates in the Autumn Trophy, starting at the Link Centre on Saturday.

Jones will hope to beef up the Cats’ defensive unit as they seek a strong start to the season.

“I think last season the team had not such a good start but a good end, so hopefully we can start strong this season,” said Jones.

“I add a bit more depth to the blue line. From what I have heard, we have a really good blue line.

“Hopefully I can score some goals but it’s important that we don’t concede many. If we can stop the other team scoring, it should be more than half the battle won.”