Fife Flyers add second British defenceman as coach raids old team for latest signing
Fife Flyers have made their second player signing of the week with the addition of British defenceman, Ben Solder.
New coach Tim Wallace has returned to his former club, MK Lightning to snap up the blueliner who iced with Guildford Flames last season.
Wallace said: “Solds is a competitive player who continues to improve year after year. I know him very well, and he has the compete level and all-around game to really help us this season.”
“He can impact the game in a lot of different ways – he skates well, shoots the puck, competes in battles, and has a good stick. This is a big year for him to establish himself as a reliable two-way defenceman in this league, and we’re excited to have him with us.”
Solder joins Flyers from Flames where he iced in 54 games across the regular season, with four assists and 24 PIMs.
The 25-year old was born in Chelmsford, and, like this week’s other new signing, Reece Kelly, spent his junior development with the Ontario Hockey Academy in Canada. He made his EIHL debut with Manchester Storm, in 2020-21, before joining NIHL outfit Bristol Pitbulls
Following his league debut in Manchester, Solder joined the Bristol Pitbulls of the NIHL where he iced in 51 games with seven goals and 22 assists. He was also the team’s assistant captain.
Solder joined MK Lightning in 2023 where he played two seasons before moving to Guildford where he iced under coach Paul Dixon.
He is the second new name on Flyers’ blue line for next season, and both are British - underlining the change in policy when it comes to recruitment.
He joins Reece Kelly who came back to his home in Fife from Sheffield Steelers after previously playing for Glasgow Clan.