Coventry NIHL Blaze are delighted to announce that defenceman Joel Gavigan will return to the club for the 2026/27 season.

The 24-year-old will enter his fifth season with the Blaze, having established himself as a key part of the team's blue line since joining Coventry in 2022.

Gavigan has been a remarkably consistent contributor from the back end during his time in Coventry. Across his Blaze career, Elite Prospects records 102 regular-season appearances, 17 goals and 36 assists for 53 points, giving him an impressive 0.52 points-per-game average as a defenceman.

His offensive contribution has been particularly notable for a defenceman. In 2024/25, Gavigan registered 17 points from 29 appearances, including four goals and 13 assists, while recording just eight penalty minutes.

That consistency has also seen Gavigan become a leader within the Blaze dressing room. He was named one of the team's alternate captains for the 2025/26 season, alongside Arthur Brookes, with Daniel Kent wearing the captain's 'C'.

His playoff performances have further demonstrated his ability to contribute from the back end. During the 2023/24 NIHL 2 playoffs, Gavigan recorded seven assists in eight games, finishing the postseason with a team-leading 0.88 points per game among Blaze players with significant playoff appearances.

Gavigan's journey with the Blaze has also seen him develop into one of the club's more experienced players. Elite Prospects lists him as a dual-position defenceman/forward, although his primary role with Coventry has been on the blue line. He stands at 5'11", shoots right-handed and was born in Nottingham.

With another season of experience behind him and a leadership role already established within the group, Gavigan's return provides further stability to the Blaze defensive corps as the team prepares for 2026/27.

Welcome back, Joel!