Invicta Dynamos Head Coach Kevin Parrish has today welcomed his fourth new face to the club this off-season by announcing the arrival of 25 year old utility man Arran Strawson.

Strawson moves to Gillingham from the Wightlink Raiders ahead of the upcoming 2012/13 campaign.

Arran Strawson rose through the ranks in his hometown of Sheffield and first appeared in the ENIHL in the 2005/06 season as he iced for the Spartans in the North Division.

In 2007/08 he then claimed his first taste of the EPL as he made several appearances for the Scimitars before eventually making that switch full time in 2009/10 having been voted ‘Defenceman of the Year’ back with his ENIHL team.

Come the close of his debut campaign in the league above, Strawson had made 54 appearances and scooped 17 points in the process leading to him being named the club’s most improved player of 2009/10. This saw a return to the Sheffield outfit the following season, who were by now renamed the Steeldogs, and here he linked up with new teammates Peter Vaisanen and Nicky Lewis – now both also with the Dynamos.

However, after a further 31 EPL outings in South Yorkshire, Strawson opted to finish the season back in the ENIHL North as
the Sutton Sting secured his services. Most recently, in 2010/11, the skater was tempted south, and to the Ryde Arena, where he teamed up with Jeremy Cornish at the Wightlink Raiders for whom he managed 36 league appearances, 10 goals, 28 assists and so 38 points.

Now the dogged ‘d-man’ will be hoping for a similar return as he dons the number 61 shirt at the Dynamos.

Speaking on the capture of utility man Arran Strawson, Head Coach Kevin Parrish revealed that he had been an admirer of the skater’s abilities for some time and was glad to finally have the player at his disposal.

Parrish said, “We came up against Arran on a number of occasions when he was playing for the Sheffield Spartans and I was very impressed by his performances against us in each and every tie. For me he was a stand-out defenceman in those clashes and, since then, he has only improved by developing his game in the EPL and icing regularly in the ENIHL”.

Parrish then suggested that the skater, who can play both in defence and as a forward, would spend most of his time as part of the Dynamos’ rear guard when he added, “Arran’s natural position is on the blue line and it’s here I seeing him playing an important role for us. However, he has been used as a forward both at Sutton and on the Isle of Wight and, given the number of injuries we had to deal with last season, it’s good to have another versatile player on the books”.

Finally the Dynamos’ supremo then gave an insight into what the club’s fans could expect from his latest acquisition when he said, “Arran is a strong unit, a real battler and a player that does not know how to quit. He’s the sort of guy that, when the chips are down, you’d want him on your side. On top of this he has the skill to make an impact at this level, as he has proven both in the north and south, and so I see him becoming an invaluable part of the team in 2012/13”.

Arran Strawson’s arrival now takes the Dynamos roster to eight ahead of the new season with Head Coach Kevin Parrish set to announce further signings in the coming week.

Picture by Tim Bowers