Blaze add netminding and forward depth

Photo: Coventry Blaze

Coventry Blaze announced the signings of goalie Miklós Rajna and forward Tyler Kirkup on Tuesday afternoon.

As with other recent EIHL signings, these were made before the IIHF International Transfer Deadline on 15 February with teams choosing to announce them at a later date.

Rajna joins to partner Paavo Hölsä as a goaltending option for the Blaze. He has spent his career in his native Hungary and been an international since 2010. Last year,  last season he led the Erste League with a sensational save-percentage of .946 and a goals-against-average of 1.77 in 34 regular season games. He spent this season with Újpest who have loaned him to the Blaze after their season ended prematurely.

Head Coach Danny Stewart said: "We wanted to add a goalie for this last stretch of the season to help protect Paavo as he has played a lot of hockey.  

 "When Miklós became an option we not only added protection, but quality as well. He’s had a great career on both the domestic and international levels. He is very excited to play here in the UK, and we want to thank his current club for giving us the ability to sign him." 

24-year-old Kirkup joins from the ECHL where he put up 15 points in 43 games. Stewart said of the forward: "Adding depth at centre was crucial for us. We saw how tough it was to get cover last season when Mathew Thompson went down. Tyler offers quality depth as well.

"He has good size, moves well and is smart on both sides of the puck. He’s at a good age and will bring some added grit to our line-up as well."