Bees have drafted in a trio of new players in the past week as the club continues to rebuild under player-coach Lukas Smital.

Bees have drafted in a trio of new players in the past week as the club continues to rebuild under player-coach Lukas Smital.

Carl Graham is the latest player to sign on at The Hive from National Ice Hockey League Play-off Champions, Wightlink Raiders.

The 31-year-old defenceman arrives hot on the heels of Czech-born forward, Frantisek Bakrlik.

Bakrlik, also 31, left Manchester Phoenix where he was a regular in their side to pen a two-year contract with the Bees.

And Bees have added more firepower to their frontline for next season by landing free-scoring British forward, Callum Fowler, also on a two-year deal.

The 23-year-old London native has spent the last five years with Invicta Dynamos where he was one of the most prolific points scorers in the English National Ice Hockey League.

The three signings will excite Bees fans as they look forward to an improvement on a poor season last time that saw them finish rock bottom of the English Premier Ice Hockey League.

Smital also explained Bakrlik snubbed a number of offers from other clubs in order to join the Bees.

“The signing of Frantisek is a real coup and one I am over the moon to have secured,” declared Smital.

“He is not only an immense physical presence on but his stats speak for themselves.

“He is a proven goal scorer at this level and therefore someone that every team in the league would have been looking to sign.” Bakrlik boasts an impressive track record following spells with Hull Stingrays, Coventry Blaze and Fife Flyers in the Elite League plus Slough Jets and then Phoenix in the EPIHL.

He was the fourth highest points scorer for Phoenix in the league in 2013/14, securing a play-off winners’ medal, and third last season with 41 goals and 47 assists in 49 games to earn a place on the EPIHL All Star Team.

Smital added: “I think the signing of Frantisek will prove to be key in defining our season and shows the direction we are moving in. I’m sure he will play a vital role in the side and will quickly establish himself in the Bees colours.” Smital will be hoping Bakrlik will form a formidable partnership with highly-rated Fowler.

In little more than 150 games for the Dynamos he has scored 148 goals with 223 assists for 371 points in the ENIHL, along with 25 goals, 22 assists for 47 points in 90 EPIHL matches.

He has been in the top four points scorers in the league in four of the last five seasons, leading the Dynamos in scoring for the last two seasons where he was second highest in league points over the same period.

The young forward has also twice represented Team GB at U18 level in the World Junior Championships.

Smital stated: “Callum has a proven record and, at only 23 years of age, still has time to develop.

“His stats for the last five seasons speak volumes and he is keen to make the step up to the EPIHL level. It should also be noted that his coach and team mates last season voted him Coaches Player and Players Player of the year too - so it is obvious there is a lot more to his game than just the numbers he puts up.” In addition, Bees have bolstered their defensive line with the capture of the experienced Graham, who previously played for Bees in 2009/10 and boasts Slough Jets, Manchester Phoenix, Basingstoke Bison and Wightlink Raiders.

He has clocked up more than 520 appearances in English ice hockey and Smital said: “We felt we needed another experienced head on defence and Carl gives us that as well as bringing a quality defensive game and some toughness to the line-up.” Bees have already been busy since the end of the season with Milan Kostourek and James Savage already signed up, while Tom Annetts, Alex Mettam, James Towalski and Lewis Turner have agreed new deals for the 2015/16 campaign.

However, youngster Harvey Stead has departed the Hive to seek opportunities elsewhere, and Smital commented: “Harvey had another offer that made a lot of sense so it would be wrong of us to stand in his way. It’s always difficult to see guys that I have coached for so long move on, but it is a credit to Harvey that he has made the progress he has at such a young age.”