Welshman Nicky Lewis will return to the Invicta Dynamos for a fifth season in 2013/14 after the Cardiff born forward penned a contract for the new campaign.

Lewis’ signing means he will become the twelfth player on the team’s roster.

25 year old forward Nicky Lewis first arrived in Kent in the summer of 2009 after rising through the Cardiff youth system to become a promising prospect for the Elite League Devils.

A half season with the then EPL Romford Raiders was later followed by a year across the pond in 2008/09, before Invicta Dynamos Head Coach Kevin Parrish swiftly snapped him up on his return to the UK. His debut year in Kent would prove hugely successful and 42 goals alongside 23 assists quickly saw him draw the attention of the Sheffield Steeldogs in the league above with the Yorkshire outfit making a move for his services in 2010/11.

Despite a further 19 appearances in the EPL though, budget constraints in Sheffield soon saw him move south again to spend the remainder of the campaign back with the Dynamos.

Nicky Lewis made 21 league appearances in Kent over the second half of 2010/11, amassing 15 points in the process, and soon committed to another term at the Silver Blades as he put pen to paper for 2011/12.

Unfortunately the Welsh skater would then go on to suffer a serious shoulder injury early on in the campaign but he battled back bravely – still managing 12 goals and 34 assists for 46 points from a challenging year.

In 2012/13 he was back in Gillingham again, as he extended his stay to a fourth season, during which he claimed 31 points for the side in 48 outings across all competitions. Now the energetic forward returns once more and goes into his fifth term with the Dynamos having now appeared for the club 150 times and managed 73 goals and 93 assists for 166 points in the process.

Speaking on the return of Nicky Lewis, Head Coach Kevin Parrish commented that he knew what to expect from the forward and suggested the re-signing would bring some stability to the side.

Parrish said, “Nicky has been with us for some time now and his work rate, energy and enthusiasm are second to none. He has the speed to cause problems, a good eye for a pass or goal and a great knack of evading opposing defenceman. With so many changes in the side it’s good to have someone like Nicky who has spent a number of seasons here, knows the setup and will bring a bit of stability to the team”.

Parrish then went on to praise the skater’s off ice manner when he added, “On top of all that Nicky is a very popular character in the changing room and the sort of guy any coach would want on his team. I look forward to having him back for the new season and am sure he will be a valuable asset in 2013/14”.

Nicky Lewis will continue to wear his number 7 jersey when he returns to the ice in September and joins Davey Jackson, Harrison Lillis, Arran Strawson and Daniel Fudger as the only returnees announced so far.

Picture supplied by David Trevallion.