The NIHL Blaze can today confirm the departure of seven players from last season's roster...

First up, is defenseman Jordan Stokes. Stokes re-joined the NIHL Blaze last season after a number of seasons icing for the Solihull Barons in NIHL1. Stokes would record 5 goals and 5 assists in nine games last season, including 10 penalty minutes.

Also not returning is utility player Morgan Wickens. Wickens iced for the NIHL Blaze for two straight seasons after joining from the Oxford Rising Stars. Wickens would ice in twenty two games across the two season span, recording just the 11 penalty minutes.

The brother of Ollie Harris, Dylan Harris, will also not be returning to the roster for the upcoming season. Like Stokes, Dylan re-joined the NIHL Blaze last season. Harris would not ice between 2020 and 2024 but returned to the line-up with his brother last season. 3 goals and 4 assists Dylan would notch up across last season's sixteen games.

Anthony Pountney will not return to the defensive ranks for the 25/26 season. After three seasons out of the game, Poutney returned to the squad for the first time since 2022. Due to other commitments, Pountney would ice in seven games last season, recording just the 6 PIMS.

Netminder Joel Bearman, as previously posted, will take up an opportunity for the Elite League's Coventry Blaze. During his three seasons with the team, Bearman iced in seven games, recording a 2.8 GAA and a .852 save percentage. A huge step up for Joel and we are super proud of him getting this opportunity.

Forward Connor Mellett has also made a team switch as he has signed for the Peterborough Phantoms NIHL2 for the upcoming season. Last season's top point scorer has iced in four straight seasons with the team and last season, scored 16 goals and 25 assists for a team leading forty-one points, taking him over the 100-Point mark in NIHL2.

Finally, we can confirm that Kyle Nash will not be returning for the upcoming season. 'Nashy' last season came back into the squad after a year away due to injury. Nash hit the ground running scoring 15 points in eleven games until another niggle saw him need to sit out the rest of the season and will now also not return for the upcoming season.

We want to thank each and every player for their effort and commitment to the NIHL Blaze during their time here. We wish them all the best on their very next adventure, be it within the hockey world or wider. The best of luck, all.