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DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR CHIEFTAINS FANS AS 2 MORE SIGN UP

DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR CHIEFTAINS FANS AS 2 MORE SIGN UP

Chelmsford Chieftains defenceman Danny Cox is the latest player to sign up for the 2012-13 campaign under Gary Clarke's stewardship. The Londoner will be pulling on the Chieftains jersey for the 3rd consecutive season and his 4th overall after having 2 seasons at rivals Romford in 2008-2010. Cox has grown as a player and settled on the Chelmsford blueline and the Riverside faithful have really got behind the 26 year old due to his calmness on the puck and also his toughness and gritty determination. After missing the start of last season due to going travelling, Cox came back and immediately made an impact to the team and averaged around 90 seconds a game in penalty minutes.

Clarke said this of Cox signing:
"I'm very very pleased and relieved to know that Coxy will be with us again next season and this time round from the very start of the season. It was clear to see that during the first couple of months of last season we were lightweight at times in defence and at times felt that we lacked a bit of grit. Coxy changed all that once he was back with us and playing fit to his full potential. He is a typical 'stay-at-home' defenceman, the type of D man that any team in our league would be begging for and I am thrilled to know that with relative ease Coxy is back wearing a Chieftains shirt. Everyone can see how much he loves this club. He wears his heart on his sleeve, plays with passion and technically very tough to beat. Not only did he strengthen our team when he returned last season, he gave the team belief. He is a great character in the dressing room and I will be looking to Coxy again this year, more than ever, to show the leadership he posses in bringing the best out of himself but the rest of the team too."

Clarke has brought in another development of the Chelmsford junior system as Cameron Bartlett has signed to play for the Chieftains in the 2012-13 NIHLS1 campaign. With an eye to utilising the undoubted talent coming through the Chelmsford Academy, Clarke was keen to sign Cameron who is known as an agitator, but fearless with it. Scoring 16 points in just 20 games for the Chelmsford Warriors last season, the 18yr old will be looking to make an impact in the higher league and with the workrate he has, he should soon become a firm fans-favourite. Bartlett is probably best remembered to Chieftains fans for daring to take on Romford hard-man Andrius Kaminskas in a gloves-dropped fight during the South East Cup tie. Although roundly beaten, he proved he has nerves of steel and a 'never say die' attitude that impressed Clarke and the coaching staff enough to offer him a full-time contract for this season.

Clarke had this to say on signing Bartlett:

"It is great to have Cameron on board on a permanent basis this coming year. Cameron showed great promise when playing for us last season and it is only natural for him to make the next step within his development. Cameron has quite clearly showed that he is not afraid to get stuck in, however, I have not bought him into the lineup to fight or play dirty - Cameron will play a hard working but disciplined role. I will be expecting him to play an agressive forechecking role, someone who is willing to finish his hits and someone who will work hard but smartly at both ends of the ice. This will be a huge season for Cameron in terms of his development; he will be playing hockey with what I believe will entail more systems and with more strategy dependent upon the opposition.  I know that Cameron can handle this expectation as long as he is willing to listen and learn which I know he is. I'm sure everyone at the Riverside will be pleased to see another product of the junior development system take the leap into senior hockey."

The club have also announced a "Meet the Players" night for Thursday 23rd August at the Two Brewers (In the function hall next to the pub) in Chelmsford from 7pm.

The Chieftains are also building their commercial portfolio with new sponsors coming on board all the time, but the club are also open to new companies and organisations to come in and support one of Essex's best-kept sporting secrets and one of the fastest-growing organisations in the county. If you are interested, please get in touch via http://www.chelmsfordchieftains.com/ or alternatively email Donna Smith via donnawhiston@btinternet.com

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