Canadian defenceman Mike Rodger has spoken of his ‘delight’ at being back involved at a competitive level of hockey after signing for the Barons earlier this season.

“I know a lot of the guys. I’ve been around Solihull for a few years now and I’ve been coaching with the kids and playing a bit of rec hockey, so it was a quick and easy transition for me.

“The level of fitness has been a bit tougher so I’m just getting my legs used to it, but it has been good.”

Rodger has also paid a special tribute to the impact that the fans have had on his comeback, after picking up consecutive man of the match awards in his first two matches for the club.

The hard-hitting D-man has been impressed with the way that the team have improved and is confident of a having a successful season, but he insisted that the main focus is to stay in the division, and give something back to the fans by winning as many home games as possible.

“The fans have been really good and the support has been really good since I’ve been back and I really have appreciated it, so thanks to all of them. It’s a delight to play for such a well supported team.

“I think the boys have been growing in confidence and have started playing. We’re not giving up the puck as much as we were in the earlier games and after the Nottingham win we’ve got the confidence of giving all the other teams a good run for their money.”

“Our main goal first and foremost is to stay up. We want to get good results week in, week out especially when we’re at home.

“When we’re at home we don’t want to be losing to anybody. We want to be grinding out wins - we want teams to be wary of coming here definitely.
“Staying up is the number one, and then as the season goes on then maybe we can look at mid-table but we definitely want to be staying up this year.”

The former EPL Telford Tigers man has spent the last few seasons playing recreational hockey as work commitments ruled him out of regular action, but now he’s back and has insisted that he has settled in well with his teammates and the Barons set-up. 

“It’s great to be back. That’s what I was missing and I’m good friends with Adz and he has been trying to get me back in it for two seasons now, but I couldn’t because of work commitments, but now I haven’t and now that I’m back into it I don’t want to go anywhere else.”