Everyone Active Raiders add two more home-grown returnees

Everyone Active Raiders will have home-grown talents Brandon Ayliffe and Brad Windebank back on their roster for the 2023-24 National League season.

Ayliffe, 24, returns for a seventh season and looks to extend a run of 255 consecutive appearances since February 2018, having taken his tally to 178 points (74 goals, 104 assists) in 280 games for the club.

And goalie Windebank, 20, is back for a sixth season to continue a tandem with Ethan James, having iced in 18 matches last season while moving past 100 appearances for the team.

Both are hoping to help Sean Easton’s side improve on a sixth-place finish and run to the play-off final last season, when they were edged out by Leeds in Coventry.

“February 2018 was when I last missed a game. I remember the game because it was midweek against Swindon and went to a shoot-out,” said three-time Supporters’ Player of the Year Ayliffe. 

“I missed that game due to a head injury I took in training. With a mild concussion I was told not to play. 

“With that amount of games I’ve played so far there’s always ups and downs, but last season was brilliant in my eyes. We proved a lot of people wrong to make it to the Coventry final. 

“Teams are going to be strong. No matter what game, we’ve just got to take each game that comes and work hard – with hard work comes great achievements. 

“No matter what, we will keep up with teams. We showed the work rate this team puts in week in and week out. 

“One superstar or a whole team of them doesn’t make the whole team. A team that gelled, all on the same page, helping your teammates out is a team – that comes from the off-ice staff to the players. 

“It’s nice to have the club back as one, it brings back memories of my junior times at Rom Valley Way, especially with the old team names of when I was coming through. 

“Let’s bring that noise from Coventry all season long!”

Windebank has an 87.33 career save percentage for the senior Raiders, as well an 89.39 record for the Division One South team.

And he admitted to feeling a sense of unfinished business, while thanking the fans for their support.

“It will be good to join up with the boys again when we get going as we really came together as a team the longer last season went on,” he said.

“I guess not getting the job done in the play-off final there is always that unfinished business thought about completing the job this coming season. 

“As last season went on it was good to see the crowds at home games increase and the volume in the Sapphire get louder. It was also good to see so many Raiders fans in Coventry too, getting behind the team. 

“We as a team do feed off the noise so we need you all in good voice from the start of this season.”

Raiders announced the signing of young forward Owen Dell, 20, on a two-way deal with Invicta Dynamos late last week.

The GB U20 international scored 21 points in 15 games last season, having returned from a spell with Hershey Cubs in the US Premier Junior Hockey League, where he tallied 57 points in 72 games.