BRACKNELL Bees made it six signings in the past two weeks with the capture of another trio of players.

Forwards Carl Thompson and Alex Barker plus defenceman, Carl Graham, have all been re-signed for the upcoming English Premier League season.

In a busy fortnight for the Bees, the capture of the three players follows last week’s announcement that netminder Matthew Smital, popular forward, Scott Spearing, and and 6ft 6ins teenage defenceman, Josh Tetlow, have also agreed to return to the Hive.

Bees player-coach Lukas Smital spoke of his delight at securing 25-year-old Barker, with the Ascot-born star joining for a second consecutive season, having previously played for the club between 2008 and 2012.

“I am pleased to have secured the signing of Alex once again as part of the forward ranks for this coming campaign,” beamed Smital.

“I felt he developed well last season and came on well as the season progressed and I am expecting more from him this time out now that he has established himself back at the Hive.”

Barker developed with Bees’ youth squads before making his senior debut in 2008. He won the South League Championship with the Hornets in 2010 before joining the Bees full time in 2010.

Barker moved to Slough Jets in 2012 and then a year later to Wightlink Raiders where he scored 78 goals and made 65 assists over 76 games and was assistant captain of their play-off winning squad.

He has made 225 English Premier League appearances and 135 in the English National League, and netted nine times for Bees last season with five assists.

Bees have further strengthened their front line with the re-signing of British forward Carl Thompson for a second full season.

Slough-born Thompson, 25, previously represented Bracknell Hornets for three years, notching 40 goals and 47 assists.

He has more than 250 Premier League and 100 National League appearances to his name and plundered 11 goals and 12 assists for Bees last season.

Smital added: “Although still young, Carl is an experienced and level-headed player with experience beyond his years.

“He is a gritty and hardworking forward who knows where the net is, but also puts the team first and for those reasons I believe he will be a solid addition to the British core of our squad.”

Experienced defenceman Graham, 32, also returns for a second season with Bees, having suffered a number of injuries in the last campaign.

He has clocked up more than 570 appearances on the ice for a number of clubs including Slough Jets, Bracknell Hornets, Wightlink Raiders, Manchester Phoenix and Basingstoke Bison.

Smital stated: “Carl had an injury hit season last year, but as the season went on he settled back in well.

“He brings experience and toughness to the Bees line-up.”