BRACKNELL Bees have been dealt a further blow in their fleeting hopes to reach the English Premier Ice Hockey League play-offs after Czech forward Milan Kostourek left the club for personal reasons.

The popular star joined the club in the summer and notched 32 goals – including six power-play and one short-handed – and 31 assists for 63 points – making him the current leading points scorer in the league.

He had also been selected for five man of the match awards in his thirty-six games.

However, Kostourek’s father died last autumn and his mother has now fallen ill, meaning the forward wishes to move closer to home.

In a message to the club’s supporters, he admitted: “It is with a heavy heart that I have asked to leave the Bracknell Bees. The players, management and fans have all been fantastic with me this season and I have had enjoyed myself with the club.

“I have no complaints about the club at all and wish I didn’t have to leave but I feel that I need to be closer to my family at this current time.

“I hope to one day return to the club as everyone has made me feel very welcome and part of the Bees family but at this time my family must be my main concern.”

Kostourek will now play for a team in Germany, allowing him to continue his hockey but to fulfil his wish to be closer to home.

Bees chairman Andrew Cross paid tribute to Kostourek and said: “I would like to personally thank Milan for his hard work, passion and efforts this season to date in the Bees colours and wish him and his family all the best in these trying times.

“It goes without saying that it is most unfortunate for the club to be losing a player of Milan’s calibre, for me the best in the entire league, and especially with the club already suffering from a number of difficulties.

“Life and family, however, must always come first and we simply felt that the right thing had to be done by the club in granting his wishes.”

BRACKNELL Bees put in a brave display but three late goals meant they were ultimately beaten 7-4 by Swindon Wildcats at The Hive on Sunday night.

Corey McEwan and Aaron Nell put the visitors 2-0 up early on, before Kostourek cut the gap.

A second Nell strike was matched by James Galazzi as the first period ended 3-2, although Matt Foord’s 100th goal for the club levelled matters during the second stanza.

Nell completed his hat-trick early in the final period before man-of-the-match Galazzi made it 4-4, but another Nell effort and a Jonas Hoog double completed victory for Wildcats.

Vanya Antonov had taken the award the previous night when Bees lost 4-1 at Peterborough.

Foord scored their goal on 36:01.

Lewis Turner, who was concussed in the match at Peterborough, hopes to be fit for this weekend, when Bees visit Basingstoke Bison on Saturday (6.30pm) before they seek revenge in another home game against Swindon (6pm).