2020-21 Signing Alert – Drew Campbell

Today, the Solent Devils are overjoyed to confirm the re-signing of veteran forward, Canadian born, Drew Campbell.

Fans favourite, Campbell, approaching his 44th birthday, joins the Devils for his fifth consecutive season, but his ninth overall at Solent.  Campbell started playing hockey in England in 1999 with The Basingstoke Buffalo, and has also spent time with Wightlink Raiders and Haringey Racers.

“The guys are amazing,” says Campbell about his return to Solent, “the room is a great family and I can’t think of playing anywhere else now.  I also feel there is some unfinished business after the last season finished prematurely, so the Devils still have a job to finish.”

Solent Devils head coach, Alex Murray, says

“Drew is the gift that keeps giving.  It is a testament to Drew that he is able to play such a high level of hockey for someone of his age, however, this is not a hinderance – his performances are always consistent and he is a valued member of our core group.”

Last season Campbell played thirty games for the Devils, scoring 20 goals and adding 13 assists, this brings his Devils appearances to 212 games with 210 goals and 203 assists.  These figures make Campbell second in all time points and all time assists for the Devils – second only to Alex Murray in both categories – and the leader for all time goals for the Devils.  Campbell has also been a member of the Devils as they won the ENL2 title and lifting the playoff cup in the 18/19 season.  Campbell’s stats, however, are small when looked at Campbell’s career as a whole – 457 total games, scoring a staggering 565 goals and earning 490 assists.

“I was okay with my performance last season,” says Campbell.  “Having the two shootout goals to beat Chelmsford both times was pretty fun, and also to get that many points as a third line centre was pretty good, but as we all know it’s the two points that we all want at the end of the game.”

Murray, clearly pleased with the decisions he made before the start of the 19/20 campaign goes on to say

“My transition for Drew could not have gone any better.  We knew that for Drew to be effective he could not log the minutes that other centremen do in the top two lines.  The decision to move him to third line centre provided me with the strongest third line in the league, which also kept Drew fresher for the bigger moments in the game, such as special teams, crucial faceoffs and the last minutes of periods and games.”

Heading in to the 2020/21 season, Campbell who also coaches within the Devils youth system, says

“I don’t really have any personal goals, but if I think about it, I guess it would be to help the kids and hopefully play with my son, who will be 16.  For the team, it is to help them finish as high up the standings as possible and to bring silverware back to the Solent Thunderdome.”

Murray knows that Campbell will always play to win, and that he can be relied upon both on and off the ice to help support the club in whatever way is necessary ends by saying

“Drew will know that we will expect pretty much the same from him in the upcoming season, but I am also respectful that Drew is not getting any younger, so we talk regularly to ensure he is not burned out.  His points tally will still be expected, and I am sure he will deliver!”

Campbell will return to the Devils in shirt #23.  If you would like to sponsor a Devil, or find out about becoming a team sponsor, contact devilssupporters@outlook.com.