Fresh out of the Ontario Hockey Academy in Canada, the Invicta Dynamos have welcomed 17 year old Scottish defenceman Andrew Henderson to the club.
Henderson returns to the UK for the 2015/16 campaign and is the latest to have signed for the Kent side.
Dundee born Henderson spent the majority of his junior years north of the border in Scotland but in 2013/14 made the decision to move across the pond and attend the prestigious Ontario Hockey Academy.
Icing for the under 18 prep team he would feature on the OHA blue line 52 times during the season before a further 32 outings last term.
2015/16 also saw him step up to the Ontario East AAA Minor Hockey League (OEMHL) on eight occasions but now, after two campaigns in Canada, he returns to these shores looking to bring his improved game to the NIHL South Division 1.
Andrew Henderson, set to turn 18 on the 21st July, arrives in Gillingham with a glowing reference from his coaches in Canada who described him as a very strong skater with excellent positioning in his own zone and a keen eye for a breakout pass.
The hard working Dundonian is considered an excellent prospect and takes the club’s Scottish contingent to three having signed alongside netminder Mark McGill and fellow blue liner Adam McNicoll.
Speaking on his eighth summer signing and his third new player to join the Mos this off-season Head Coach Kevin Parrish said, “Having spoken to Andy’s coaches from his two seasons in Canada and heard nothing but positives I’m very pleased to have him join us in Kent for 2015/16.”
“Andy is an agile skater with a great attitude and excellent work ethic and I’m confident he will find his feet in the NIHL South and showcase his talents.”
“He’s still young and his game will only continue to improve as he matures further but Andy has the ability to perform in this league already and I know he’s raring to make his mark in Kent”.
Meanwhile talking briefly to Dundee based news site thecourier.co.uk on his latest venture Andrew Henderson said, “I feel very lucky to be doing something that I enjoy. I will be playing hockey at a good standard and probably quite similar to what I was experiencing in Canada where my time at the Ontario Academy worked wonders for me both as a player and academically”.
The young defenceman then revealed that he would quickly feel at home amongst the Dynamos when he added, “It’s great that I have a couple of other Scots here in Adam and Mark and they should help me settle in”.
Andrew Henderson will wear number 42 for the Mos in 2015/16 – the same number he wore for the Ontario Hockey Academy – and takes the team’s roster to eight with further players to be announced shortly.