ROMFORD,U.K- English Premier league outfit Romford Raiders have been busy this week, confirming no less than five signings. Matt Turner and Danny Cox will be returning, while Adam Copland, Ryan Giles and new Import Dallas Costanzo were also announced.

Turner is a product of the Chelmsford youth setup, and saw a few games for the Chieftains in the EPL while playing for the under-19 Chelmsford Mohawks. In the 2007-08 season Turner joined the newly formed ENL side, the Romford Spitfires. Last season was the 20 year-old’s first spent full-time in the EPL with the Raiders, weighing in with eight goals and six assists. A Raiders spokesman commented:

“We're very pleased that Matt has agreed to return, I know he was a target elsewhere but we can now see Matt build on the considerable progress he made last year. After a year with the Spits, last season was his first dedicated EPL campaign and while it's fair to say he was a fringe player at the start of the year, he was a key member of the roster by the end and scored some big goals for us,"

“Matty is a professional guy who is deceptively tough, skates well and is really dogged. His determination in the corners led to so many turnovers in our favour last year we stopped counting and an attitude like his definitely endeared him to the RVW crowd. He also started to find the net and I think the fact that Jesse (Head coach Jesse Hammil) regularly sent him out of the first line shows how highly we regard him."

Danny Cox will also be wearing the gold and blue again this season, after joining the Raiders part way through the last campaign from ENL side Haringey Greyhounds. He has also played for Raiders bitter Essex rivals Chelmsford Chieftains, as well as Bracknell Hornets. Cox is a dependable stay-at-home defenseman who endeared himself to the Romford faithful with his willingness to drop the gloves and stick up for his teammates.

“Coxy is another player we've been very keen to get back, He came to us as outgoing Haringey captain and displayed that mature approach from his first shift with the Raiders. Danny isn't flashy or flamboyant, he's a solid, no-nonsense D-man and just gets on with the job in hand," Raiders spokesman said “He is also willing to put it all on the line for the team and it was no surprise when Jesse picked him as his player of the year. It would have been a real blow to lose Coxy from the roster but we haven't, he's back and we're delighted."

Adam Copland joins Romford for his second spell at Rom Valley Way, after previously playing for the Raiders in the 2007-08 season. Last season he played for top ENL outfit Invicta Dynamos, and was named their defenseman of the year. He played under-19 hockey at Guildford and Invicta, as well as in the ENL for Invicta, before moving to Canada, where he played Junior A hockey. Upon his return the 24 year-old laced up his skates for former Elite League side Basingstoke Bison before signing for the Raiders.

Copland is joined at the Raiders by former Invicta teammate Ryan Giles. This will be the 19 year-olds first crack at the EPL after spending the last three seasons in the ENL with the Dynamos. Before that he played under-16 and under-19 hockey with the Romford Hornets and Buccaneers. Giles was also named Invicta’s post season Player-of-the-Year last season.A Romford spokesman said:

“We're really pleased to get both of these guys for the new Raiders' team. We know all about Copes. When he first came here, he was arguably our best performing defenseman, import or otherwise. He then picked up a niggling injury which definitely affected his form and his confidence. A year on, Copes is in great shape as an award winning member of the Dynamos and is really pumped about coming back to Romford,"

“Ryan obviously has less experience but has always achieved when thrown in at the deep end. Credit to his former Coach, Kevin Parrish, for trusting Ryan to do a job when others might have been a bit reluctant to risk such a young player. He stood out with maturity beyond his years at Invicta and had an outstanding post season. We think we've signed a British defenseman who is ready now but still has real potential,” the spokesman continued.

Giles rounds off a strong contingent of British defenseman for the Raiders (Munroe, Cox, Copland, Giles), which may be joined after Christmas by Romford legend Mark Williams. ‘Willy’ needs to undergo surgery on his shoulder during the summer after playing through injury for the past few months, but is not ruling out a return if he fully recovers. It also remains to be seen if coach Jesse Hammill decides to go with a second import defenseman to join Michal Palik, after it was revealed that he was in discussions to sign former MK Lightning offensive d-man Mindy Kieras. Kieras has now been confirmed as signing for Basingstoke Bison, who are rumoured to have offered him more money than the Raiders were able to.

An import that has been confirmed though is 25 year-old centre Dallas Costanzo. The six foot, 185lb Canadian began his career with Vernon Vipers of the BCHL before making the transition to college hockey with the South Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Trojans. He was named the Trojan’s rookie of the year in his first season, and was named team captain the following year. His coach at ‘SAIT’ spoke highly of his former player; 

“He consistently demonstrates a standard of play that the team can’t help but follow. He is a team leader on the ice with the most faceoff wins and hits, especially during the playoffs. His tenacious and physical style of play makes him an unsung hero. Off the ice, Dallas is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet.”

After leaving college he entered the CHL, and played the 08/09 season with the Mississippi Riverkings, where he registered 20 points (8+12) in 43 games. Of the signing, a Romford spokesman said:

“Dallas is exactly the type of player we’ve been looking for, and for the last few weeks he’s been the guy we wanted. Jesse has had glowing reports wherever he’s checked and we firmly believe our new Raider is blessed with an attitude the Romford supporters will really respond to,"

"Jesse and John have worked on the contract over the last couple of days and now we’re good to go. Dallas has played at a good standard from juniors through college and into pro hockey and we are really looking forward to him leading the line. I hear that Labrokes have stopped taking bets on the music we'll play when Dallas scores his first home goal.”

Contact the author at Dave.lambert@prohockeynews.com