CZECH-BORN forward Krystof Kafan has become the latest new recruit at Bracknell Bees.

It has been another busy week at the Hive with Kafan one of three more players to have signed on for the new English Premier League season.

The 26-year-old spent last season playing in France and the previous campaign in Poland, having launched his career in his native homeland.

And Bees player-coach Lukas Smital is expecting big things from his fellow countryman.

He said: “This season I have looked to recruit young, up and coming non-British trained players and Krystof fits that brief and joins us for his first venture into the UK game.

“He has experience, size and speed as well as an eye for goal and I look forward to seeing his efforts and contributions this coming season.”

Kafan graduated through the youth system at HC Litinov and went on to play two seasons with HC Litomerice and then HC Most.

He joined Polish side GKS Katowice in 2014 for a season and he finished fifth in team scoring before spending last season with Tours in France, netting four goals with five assists in 13 games.

Meanwhile, defenceman Harvey Stead and teenage forward Rio Grinell-Parke have also joined Bees.

Reading-born Stead, 20, is returning to the Bees after icing for Swindon Wildcats last season.

Stead joined Bees as a youngster, winning a championship with the U18s Drones when he was captain.

He made his senior debut for the club in the 2013/14 season and went on to make 77 appearances before moving to Swindon where he chipped in with five assists and 26 penalty minutes last season.

Smital believes the ex-Great Britain U18 and U20 international will be a solid addition to Bees’ blue line.

“I am happy to have Harvey back at Bracknell,” he declared. “Despite his relatively young age he is a solid defenceman who stays calm and out of the penalty box.

“He is still developing but with another year’s experience gained at Swindon he is keen to be back at The Hive to continue his progress.”

Finally, 17-year-old Grinell-Parke is no stranger to the Bees having played for the Bracknell Stingers and Bracknell Drones in the past.

He even played two games for the Bees in which he netted a goal and claimed an assist.

The Camden-born forward also spent time at Romford Hornets and Guildford Firestars and has taken part in three National Conference Finals over three years.

Last season he moved to London Raiders in the ENIHL for the full season and impressed in 42 games, netting fifteen goals and fifteen assists.

Smital added: “Rio is a young and talented forward with a good eye for goal and his impressive development continue last season with the London Raiders in the ENIHL.

“We will be looking to help him develop his game further with the Bees and he is no stranger to The Hive having been with the BIHC for two seasons as well as representing South West and South East at the Nationals alongside other BIHC players, some of whom are now with the Bees.”