BRACKNELL Bees have continued to remodel their squad for the forthcoming English Premier Ice Hockey League season with the signing of Slovakian-born defenceman David Gaborcik.

The 23-year-old joins from Slovak Extraliga team HK SKP Poprad, where he has spent the last four seasons in the senior squad, making the play-offs in three of those years.

Delighted Bees head coach Lukas Smital said: “In keeping with looking to sign young non-British trained players who are hungry to succeed and improve their game, we have recruited David from the Slovakian leagues.

“He is a solid defenceman who is a true team player and I’m looking forward to his contribution in his first UK hockey season.”

Prior to Gaborcik’s senior debut he had been with the club’s Under 20 and U18 teams for four seasons, and he has nearly 150 Slovak Extraliga games of experience.

The Bees have also added 17-year-old defenceman Jack Hayes to their roster as a development player.

He was originally a product of the Swindon ice hockey junior system having progressed into the U16 Leopards and Lynx in the 2010/11 season.

Hayes remained with the club through the U18s Cougars and Tigers before a move along the M4 to Slough as part of the Jets’ U18 squad.

Whilst with Slough Hayes was part of the South East U17s squad in that year’s nationals.

Last season a further move along the M4 to Bracknell saw Hayes as part of the U18s Drones blue line, where in 20 games he notched one goal and 15 assists while being the team’s defenceman of the season.

He stepped up to ENIHL level with the Hornets for three games before he also made his debut in the Premier League for the Bees as part of the squad at Hull Pirates.

Smital said: “I am happy to have added Jack to this year’s squad.

“He still has developing to do but I believe that being part of the Bees squad and training and travelling regularly with the team will benefit him greatly and put him in a good position to earn and take his chance with us this season.”

The Bees have lost one player, with defenceman Lewis Turner leaving the club to join Basingstoke Bison.