EIHL: Nathan Ripley signs two-way contract with Coventry Blaze

The Coventry Blaze have completed the signing of 19-year-old forward Nathan Ripley on a two-way contract for the 2021/22 season, The Boar Sport can confirm.

Ripley, who will also ice for the NIHL’s Sheffield Steeldogs, is a 2002-born left-shot forward from Rotherham. The 6’0” left winger, a product of Sheffield’s development programme, spent two years in Canada between 2017 and 2019, skating for the Ontario Hockey Academy.

While in North America, Ripley featured in AAA, AA, and Prep School competitions, making 111 appearances and registering 54 points.

In 2020/21, Ripley appeared for the Sheffield Scimitars and Steeldogs as the sport returned from its Covid-19 hiatus with a series of cup competitions. The former Team GB youth international made a solid impact in the NIHL1, registering eight points (seven goals, one assist) in five games for the Scimitars. In 11 outings for the Steeldogs, he notched one assist and twenty penalty minutes.

Like Austin Mitchell-King and Sam Russell, Ripley will be available to the Blaze throughout the season and will frequently train with Danny Stewart’s first-team squad. On Wednesday, the Yorkshireman appeared alongside his two-way colleagues in Coventry’s 4-3 pre-season defeat against the Manchester Storm.

The Blaze’s 2021/22 season begins on Saturday, with Stewart’s side travelling to Guildford to face the Flames on the opening weekend of Challenge Cup action.

Blaze Signings So Far:

C.J. Motte – 29-year-old goalie, USA

Jordan Hedley – 24-year-old goalie, GBR

David Clements – 26-year-old defenceman, GBR

Justin Hamonic – 27-year-old defenceman, CAN

Dillon Eichstadt – 27-year-old defenceman, USA

Nathanael Halbert – 25-year-old defenceman, CAN-GBR

Dane Gibson – 27-year-old defenceman, CAN

Joey Raats – 25-year-old defenceman, USA-CAN

Ross Venus – 27-year-old forward, GBR

Alex Forbes – 25-year-old forward/defenceman, GBR

Luke Ferrara – 28-year-old forward, GBR

Johnny Curran – 26-year-old forward, CAN

Janne Laakkonen – 39-year-old forward, FIN

Alec Marsh – 25-year-old forward, USA

David Broll – 28-year-old forward, CAN

Matthew Thompson – 27-year-old forward, CAN

Evan Bloodoff – 30-year-old forward, CAN

Ryan Penny – 26-year-old forward, CAN

Two-Way Deals:

Sam Russell – 21-year-old defenceman, GBR (Milton Keynes Lightning)

Austin Mitchell-King – 19-year-old forward, GBR (Telford Tigers)

Nathan Ripley – 19-year-old-forward, GBR (Sheffield Steeldogs)