Author: Laurence Thorn

The Lee Valley Lions are delighted to welcome back forward Joe Berry for the 2019-20 season.

Joe has played 11 seasons in total for the Lions, racking up a total of 72 goals and 68 assists in 152 career league games for the club.
These numbers put him ninth in the club’s all-time point and goal scoring rankings; and 15th all-time in assists.

Last season he scored nine goals and assisted on a further 16, for a total of 25 points in 21 games.
Both his assist and point tallies were career highs for the 31-year-old.

Now he returns to the Den, hoping to add to those numbers and help the team to have a successful season.

Click here to view Joe’s career statistics courtesy of eliteprospects.com.

Joe Berry returns to the Lions for his 12th season with the club (Photo: Phil Hutchinson)

The Lee Valley Lions can today confirm two new faces for the 2019-20 roster, as Richie Pickering and Tyrone Wells sign up.

Defenceman Richie Pickering came through the junior hockey ranks in Romford, last playing for Romford U16s in 2012/13 before the Rom Valley Way rink closed down.
Having been out of the game for a few years, Richie impressed at the Lions’ recent open trials and is looking forward to helping the team this season.

Forward Tyrone Wells also joins the Lions this season, having previously played recreational hockey.
Tyrone also impressed at the club’s open try-out sessions, with the Lions hoping he will add scoring prowess to the squad.

Tomorrow we will announce a returnee from last season – stay tuned!

The Lee Valley Lions can confirm another new face for the upcoming season, as forward Ben Margerison joins the team.

Ben played under 16 and under 18 hockey for Blackburn between 2008 and 2012, scoring a total of 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 47 games across those four seasons.

After a number of years away from the sport, he will now make his senior debut for the Lions this season after impressing at the club’s open tryout sessions.

Click here to see Ben’s career statistics courtesy of Elite Prospects.

The Lee Valley Lions can today confirm our first goaltender for the upcoming 2019-20 season, as James Andrew stays on for his fourth season with the club.

The 28-year-old netminder played junior hockey in Peterborough, before playing two seasons for the University of London Dragons in the BUIHA.

He then signed for the Lions ahead of the 2016-17 campaign and made some impressive stops on his way to being named the club’s Most Improved Player.

James then returned for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, and has overall played 64 games for the Lions since joining the club three years ago.

Click here to view James’ career statistics courtesy of eliteprospects.com.

We will announce a new face to the club tonight – stay tuned!

James Andrew returns for his fourth season in a Lions jersey (Photo: Phil Hutchinson)

The Lee Valley Lions can today confirm our first two player signings for the 2019-20 season, with brothers James and Harry O’Brien signing up for the new campaign.

Defenceman James O’Brien made his senior debut for the Lions last season. He played 24 games in total, tallying two assists while logging 28 penalty minutes.

He also showed his resilience and commitment to the cause when he played an away game in Gosport just a week after losing several teeth when a puck hit him in the mouth during a game.

The 20-year-old blueliner had previously played the majority of his junior hockey for Milton Keynes, before playing for Coventry U20s in his final year in juniors.

His brother, forward Harry O’Brien, now makes the step up from junior hockey and will play his first senior campaign with the Lions. Harry has spent his entire junior career at Milton Keynes, rising up through the ranks to the U18 side, for whom he played for the last three seasons.

Harry scored four goals and assisted on a further 13, giving him a total of 17 points, for Milton Keynes U18s last season which put him fifth in team scoring.

James O’Brien’s career statistics (courtesy of Elite Prospects)
Harry O’Brien’s career statistics (courtesy of Elite Prospects)

We will announce two more players for the new season tomorrow (Tuesday 6th August) – one new face and one returnee…

Defenceman James O’Brien will stay on for his second season at the Lions (Photo: Phil Hutchinson)