AHEAD of the new ice hockey season, Widnes Wild have announced the signing of 27-year-old defenceman Scott Cooper, who played last season for the Solway Sharks in the higher Moralee Division, writes Nathan Okell.

Prior to that, he played for two seasons with the Whitley Warriors and one with his home Billingham Stars club, making over 160 league and cup games at ENL / NIHL level in total.

Talking about his move to Widnes, Cooper said: “I have heard nothing but good things about the club and the people involved, including the fans.

“It seemed like the perfect fit for me with work etc.

“I can’t wait to get started and with the team that’s being put together, and I’m sure we will be pushing for that promotion spot.”

Wild have also announced further recruits to last season’s team that won the Laidler Division Play Off title for the second year in a row, with Mike Mawer marking his return alongside Lee Kemp and Dan Bracegirdle, in what is looking to be a very impressive squad.

Widnes begin the new season on Sunday, September 2, when they take on Sutton Sting at Silver Blades Widnes and will be sponsored by Runcorn-based company YKK (UK) Ltd, in what they hope will prove to be a successful partnership.

Manchester Mayhem boosted their chances of qualifying for the end of season playoffs on Sunday, with a 7-0 win over the Sheffield Steelkings in the British Para Ice Hockey League at Planet Ice Widnes.

Sheffield put in a good and spirited performance but were unable to put any sustained pressure on the Mayhem goal and were out-shot over the course of the game by 40 to 5.

The first period was very close, with the only goal coming in the 6th minute, through Mayhem’s captain and GB international player Karl Nicholson.

Anthony Booth put Mayhem two goals up with a goal just 2 minutes from the restart, with the match being decided in two short bursts of activity in the second period. A second goal for Booth came on 19 minutes and Karl Nicholson scored again less than 60 seconds later to put Mayhem 4-0 up.

A hat-trick of goals within 69 seconds by Karl Nicholson between the 28th and 30th minute completely killed the game off with just seconds remaining in the period.

The third period was very tense and enjoyable to watch but saw no more scoring and the game finished at 7-0 to the Mayhem.

Riverside Raiders lost their last group game of the Summer Classic Cup competition with a 9-8 defeat away to the Kingston City Knights in Hull on Sunday.

The result means that the Raiders finished the group stage of the competition in 4th place out of 6, but still qualify for the play offs where they will play group winners Wyre Seagulls in a one-off semi-final match in Blackburn.

The other semi-final will see runners up Flintshire Phantoms at home to third place Kingston City Knights, with the two winners meeting up in the final in Sheffield in early September.