Five players back for second year of deal

Credit: John Unwins

Five players back for second year of deal


The Guildford Flames ice hockey club start the off-season re-tooling with a familiar look thanks to 5 players returning for their 2nd years of 2-year agreements. Forwards Kruise Reddick, John Dunbar, and Brett Ferguson will be joined by Defenceman Jesse Craige and Calle Ackered; all of whom signed last summer through the 2019-2020 campaign.

Reddick led the club offensively during the Patton Conference championship term with 31 goals and 81 league, cup and playoff points. Along with the 4 others, he joined the Flames in 2017-2018 and has 60 goals and 98 assists in 138 starts.

Dunbar was 3rd in club scoring this season with 17 goals and 71 points and has Flames career totals of 42 goals and 120 assists in 139 appearances.

Ferguson chipped in 15 goals and 33 assists this past season and has iced 117 times wearing the burning G. His latest numbers follow on from a good opening term that has him currently paused on 37 goals and 113 career points.

Craige was named an EIHL 2nd team All-Star after a 9 goal and 51 assist campaign. In 140 starts with Surrey’s side, he has 23 goals and 133 points.

Finally, Swedish born Ackered, also a 2nd All -Star selection, the only non-Canadian passport holder in the group of 5, was in the club’s top 3 goal scorers with 27 while adding 33 assists for a 60-point finish. He leads all active players with 30 powerplay goals over his time with the club and sits on 131 points thanks to 49 goals and 82 assists.

“Last summer we were able to not only return a good core of players to the fold for this past season, but we were fortunate to be able to get several of them to agree 2 years with us,” said Paul Dixon.

“Sometimes when you do that you might be returning some guys out of contractual obligation, but we certainly can’t say that about any of these guys who were all key players in a very successful run.”

“All of them had excellent campaigns in helping us collect a trophy and helping us advance to the depths of Cup and Playoff competition. We are excited to have them all with us again as we try to get ourselves set up for success next year.”

“As a starting point it is great news to already have players of this calibre signed up this early in the off season.”