Liam Bartholomew is settling into life with the Coventry NIHL Blaze, with a return to familiar surroundings, a strong team spirit and ambitions of lifting silverware shaping his start to the season.

Having played in Coventry as a youngster, Bartholomew’s move to the NIHL Blaze represents both a return to a familiar environment and an opportunity to embrace a new challenge closer to home.

“I played in Coventry as a kid and wanted a change. It’s also closer to home, and the transition has been good so far. I was given a warm welcome to the team,” Bartholomew explained.

That welcome has helped him settle into the squad, but it is the collective attitude and commitment of the group that has particularly stood out since his arrival.

“The team, I couldn’t say a bad word about them. The effort that we put in during training and games is great. The thing that has stood out to me most is the buy-in from everyone — everyone gets each other going.”

That togetherness could prove vital as the NIHL Blaze look to build momentum throughout the campaign. With players pushing one another in training and carrying that work ethic into games, the foundations are being laid for a competitive season.

For Bartholomew, however, the ambitions go beyond simply settling in and contributing to the group. Both personally and collectively, there is one clear objective: to bring silverware back to Coventry.

“My personal goal for this year is to lift a cup, and the same goes for the team. The fans can expect hard work and commitment, not only from me but from the lads.”

With Bartholomew eager to make his mark in a NIHL Blaze shirt, his focus is firmly on helping the team turn its hard work and togetherness into success on the ice.

The ambition is clear, the commitment is there, and Bartholomew will be hoping to play his part in making it a memorable season for the Coventry NIHL Blaze and their supporters.