The Lee Valley Lions can today confirm our first two player signings for the 2019-20 season, with brothers James and Harry O’Brien signing up for the new campaign.

Defenceman James O’Brien made his senior debut for the Lions last season. He played 24 games in total, tallying two assists while logging 28 penalty minutes.

He also showed his resilience and commitment to the cause when he played an away game in Gosport just a week after losing several teeth when a puck hit him in the mouth during a game.

The 20-year-old blueliner had previously played the majority of his junior hockey for Milton Keynes, before playing for Coventry U20s in his final year in juniors.

His brother, forward Harry O’Brien, now makes the step up from junior hockey and will play his first senior campaign with the Lions. Harry has spent his entire junior career at Milton Keynes, rising up through the ranks to the U18 side, for whom he played for the last three seasons.

Harry scored four goals and assisted on a further 13, giving him a total of 17 points, for Milton Keynes U18s last season which put him fifth in team scoring.

James O’Brien’s career statistics (courtesy of Elite Prospects)
Harry O’Brien’s career statistics (courtesy of Elite Prospects)

We will announce two more players for the new season tomorrow (Tuesday 6th August) – one new face and one returnee…