Published: Thursday, 29th May, 2008 09:00
Bicknell becomes new Bees boss
By Charles Watts
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All change: Adam Bicknell (pictured) is already looking at new recuits after becoming the new Bracknell Bees player/coach.
AFTER a week of speculation Adam Bicknell was named as the new player/coach of the Bracknell Bees at the club’s recent AGM.
Bicknell replaces his good friend Dwight Parrish who left the role last week to move back to Manchester with his wife and young child.
The popular forward, who has captained the side for the last three years, has already started building for the coming season and has announced that Matt Foord, Jan Melichar, Sam Oakford and Andy Hemmings will be returning. Foord will be the new team captain while Melichar will be an assistant captain.
The appointment brings to an end a turbulent time for the Bees who had looked in danger of having to drop out of the EPL due to financial difficulties.
With all that now behind them Bicknell is determined to build a side strong enough to bring some silverware to The Hive for the fourth season in a row.
He said: “I’m really excited about the challenge and it’s one I’m going to meet head on.
“It’s not often that a British lad of my age gets the chance to manage a hockey team so I want to make the most of the opportunity.
“I’ve already started working hard. We’re about a month behind all the other teams so I’m fighting against time a bit.
“We’ve announced four of the lads who will be coming back and they will be very important to us.
“I’ve also been in contact with quite a few other players. We’ll have some new imports, new British guys and some familiar faces and I think we’ll once again have a competitive team who will be right up there.”
He added: “I feel we got slightly out-muscled on the ice last season and we struggled to score enough goals. I think the majority of people know the style of hockey I like and players will be selected on their ability to match the team’s needs.”
Bicknell did receive a blow at the end of last week, however, when young stars Kurt Reynolds and Shaun Thompson both made the move to Elite League side Basingstoke Bison.
He added: “They’ve both gone and I missed the boat there really. They’re going to be a huge loss for the club but I think I’ve already got players who can come in and replace them.”
Bicknell has played under some very successful coaches in recent years, including Mike Ellis, Ryan Aldridge and Parrish and admits he has learnt a lot from all of them.
But he is determined to stamp his own mark on the Bees and he plans to forge much stronger links than have previously existed with the very successful Bracknell Ice Hockey Club (BIHC) which caters for youngsters ranging from five to 18-years-old in the town.
He said: “It makes sense for us to use and nurture that talent so in a few years time we could have two or three more Sam Oakfords in our squad.
“I want to start trying getting some of the best under-18s players around our team more. Recently there seemed to be a bit of an ‘us and them’ feel about the Bees and the BIHC when we should all be under one umbrella.
“I really want to build a strong team spirit here. Last season I felt a couple of players weren’t really that committed to the cause and I don’t want that this year.
“I am a firm believer in building good team spirit. By doing this, players will skate through brick walls for each other and the team will reap the benefits on the ice.”
Bees general manager Stuart Robinson, said: “Adam has been an outstanding leader on the ice since joining the club and is well respected by the players, the back office team and the fans.
“Following Dwight’s departure, it was only natural that another strong and popular leader was appointed as Head Coach and Adam without doubt has proven that he possesses the skills to take this club forward.”
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