Ashley Calvert highly motivated after switching to Leeds Chiefs

HEADING NORTH: Forward Ashley Calvert, seen in action for Sheffield Steeldogs last season, has been signed by Leeds Chiefs. Picture courtesy of Cerys Molloy.

Leeds Chiefs closing in on reinforcements as they look to bridge gap on rivals R...

And with player-coach Zajac closing in on a new import to replace Radek Meidl, who is expected to be heading to Poland after also asking to be released, Leeds are gradually returning to something resembling a full roster.

Sam Zajac was quick to move for Ashley Calvert when the opportunity arose. Picture courtesy of Steve Brodie.

Zajac said the opportunity to sign someone of Calvert's calibre was something that immediately interested him and believes he is getting a player who will add some toughness to the NIHL National club's roster.

"We’re just looking to give him an opportunity, a place to prove himself," said Zajac. "I think we’re going to have a highly-motivated player on our hands. He’s a very tough player to play against at times, he can be a bit of a bull in a china shop, he’s big and strong and he adds some toughness to our team.

"Guys of his calibre, aren’t often available at this time of the year, so it is a bit of a coup for us to bring him in."

Last season, in North One, Calvert led the scoring for a Steeldogs team pipped to the regular season title by Hull Pirates, posting 65 points, including 46 goals, in just 34 games. Since the formation of the new NIHL National league, he recorded four goals and five assists in 15 games before he and the Steeldogs went their separate ways.

Calvert trained with the Chiefs this week ahead of the expected switch, impressing Zajac immediately with his approach.

"He’s looked good on the ice in practice," added Zajac. "He was competitive and we were doing a doing a lot of battle drills and stuff like that and he wasn’t afraid to get in there and mix it up with his new team-mates.

"It’s a good sign - he had a little intensity and he seems to have a bit of a fire lit up underneath him now and we’re going to try and use that to our advantage as much as we can."