THINGS are shaping up nicely for the recently formed Deeside Ducks.

The determined Ducks are continuing to assemble an exciting roster for their debut season in the NIHL Laidler Division and have announced the signing of four more promising young players.

The most experienced of the quartet is 22-year-old defenceman Kieran Clarkson, who is a former Deeside and Manchester junior.

He has also played four seasons of Laidler Division hockey for Altrincham Aces and Bradford Bulldogs.

In that time, he has made some 70 competitive appearances at NIHL level and has most recently been playing for the Connah’s Quay Cobras recreational team.

Another Deeside junior, 17-year-old Ben Roscoe, only has two seasons of hockey under his belt - due to the Covid pandemic lockdowns and the closure of the North Wales rink – but he was an alternate captain for Deeside Dragons U18s last season.

The other two players come from further afield and were selected after their participation in the open player trials in June.

Seventeen-year-old defenceman Alfie Kelly is a former Manchester junior and was captain of the Storm U18 team last season.

He also made 22 appearances for the Altrincham Aces in the Laidler Division in what was his breakout senior season.

Netminder Callum Preston, also 17, is a former Widnes, Blackburn and Bradford junior and also played last season for the Manchester Storm U18 team.

He already has some NIHL level experience as he dressed for Widnes Wild as a back-up netminder for four Moralee Division games in the 2022/23 season and played a 20-minute shift in a North West Cup game, during which he achieved a six-shot shut out against the Blackburn Hawks.

People can follow the progress of the new Deeside Ducks team as they prepare for their first season of competition on their Facebook page.

Meanwhile, Deeside Dragons have announced long-time defenceman Billy Perks will be in the ranks for the 2024-25 season.

Perks has been a Dragon since playing for the U16s in 2014, when he was only 13, and since then he has only ever suited up in a Deeside jersey.

Since taking two years out when the team was inactive due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Perks has returned and played his first two full seasons in the NIHL Division One (North).

He has become a strong stay at home defender and while he isn’t afraid to drop the gloves, Perks mostly plays a solid, clean game.

Indeed, he only took seven penalties last season.

Perks told the club’s website: ‘It was an easy choice to make. I don’t want to play for any other team,

“I’ve always been a Dragon and I’m excited to play my ninth year of Dragons’ hockey.

“This is a great group of guys, and we have a good mix of old and new to push for success again this season as we go from strength to strength. Bring on September!”