Elite League's Ben Lowe Joins Sutton Sting!

Sutton Sting coach Ian Johnson continues to build a team to challenge for a top spot in ice hockey’s ENL 2 for next season and today announces a massive signing for the Ashfield club. Elite League forward Ben Lowe has decided to return home to Sheffield and has chosen to join Sutton Sting over his boyhood team Sheffield which is another shot-in-the-arm for the Sting.

The 20-year-old who lives and works in Sheffield was a former Sheffield junior who moved to Kingston (Hull) to develop his hockey under the guidance of one of hockey’s great coaches, Peter “Jonker” Johnson. He rose through the junior ranks earning a regular spot with Kingston’s ENL 1 team, the Jets before he got the call to join Sylvain Cloutier’s Hull Stingrays in the Elite Ice Hockey League.

(Photograph by Arthur Foster - All rights acknowledged)

Unfortunately Ben gained little ice time last season with the Stingrays but he hoped to re-sign for them for the 2011-12 campaign. Speaking at the end of last season Lowe said "I would like to be back in Hull next season because I think Cloutier has a lot to offer, he's got good experience, good team-work skills and I would love to play under him again."

Some commentators have said that Lowe made the jump to the country's top flight league too soon in his career and this is a point understood by the Sheffield youngster who said today “I’ve had a shot at the Elite league and I loved it, it is where I want to play and maybe I could still be there who knows?” He went on, “Everyone knows a player needs ice time and my chances were limited last season. I understand about opportunity and I want to get myself in to a position where I can exploit the opportunity next time it comes around.”

Coach Johnson knows exactly what type of player he is getting in Lowe, “He is explosive! Pure and simple” he said and added, “Ben is a fast and agile forward with great hands. He has an aggressive nature and uses his athleticism to great effect. I know he is suited to left-wing and I know he will prove to be one of our top players. I am really excited about Ben joining our team.”

Lowe has been playing hockey since he started out with the Sheffield juniors at U10. He moved to Kingston and played Conference Hockey at every age group. He progressed in to the ENL team and it was there he was picked by Cloutier and signed his first professional contract. At the time Cloutier said “I am really pleased to sign Ben. He was training with us last season and you could see the improvement he was making...he maybe didn't get as much ice time as he would have liked...but Ben is still young, he wants to get better and we want to help make him a better player."

With the Stingrays needing to raise their game for the forthcoming Elite league season Lowes opportunities were going to be limited and he needed to re-think his options. Living and working in Sheffield meant a return to Sheffield seemed like a good option. Then he came across the Sting. Johnson tells the story “I got a call from Offord telling me about this kid from Hull. He came in to the trials and blew me away with his speed and his style of play. I knew he was a player who would help us and I knew if we could get him on board then we would have another great offensive threat. We talked about his development and about what we would do for each other and he agreed to join us. I am absolutely delighted, he is another great signing for us.”

Ben Lowe himself is equally enthusiastic and added “I know I’m stepping down on the hockey ladder and I’m fine with that. I know that time is on my side and that I have still got to develop my hockey. I’ve had a close look at Sutton Sting and I know that this team is going places. The Club has ambition and that is something I like. I think we are going to help one another get to the next level and that is great for everyone”