Chelmsford Chieftains have added two Canadian defencemen to their roster.

Adam Collins, 21, from Peterborough, Ontario is an exciting young player, and the 6ft and 200 lb defenceman comes to Chieftains from OHL champions Belleville Bulls.

He has played all most minor league sports in Peterborough and as well as an excellent hockey player he was a baseball catcher and was scouted by the Toronto Blue Jays.

He has spent his recent junior hockey career between Owen Sound and Belleville helping the latter win the OHL championshios in 1999 and also saw them reach the prestigious Memorial Cup semi-finals in the same year.

Collins is eager to come to England as his father was born in Kent and his grandparents hail from Manchester.

Also added to Chieftains' roster is Mike Camelon.

He is 6'3" tall, weighs 195lbs and hails from Arnprior, Ontario, the home town of Chieftains' prolific scorer Duane Ward.

He spent time in the ECHl at Dayton and Augusta and was a graduate of the CJHL, with a League Championship and Eastern Canada Championship to his credit.

In his final year in minor hockey he scored 68 points from 40 games.

Chieftains spokeman John Blundell said: The club is delighted to have signed two fine defencemen as in Adam and Mike and they will solidify our backline significantly.

''Adam is a true sporting all-rounder and his athleticism will contribute enormously to our already fine squad.

''Mike is well known to Duane Ward and comes highly recommended by Ward and his previous coaches.

''Both players are keen to join us and their enthusiasm to play for us will be of great benefit''.

On the minus side, Ben Pitchley has already found the lure of joining his home team Romford too great to resist and has quit Chieftains after just two training sessions.

The club is obviously disappointed that Pitchley has decided to go back to Rom Valley Way but Mr Blundell said: ''That's life, we wouldn't want to keep players who are not 100 per cent committed to the Chieftains.''

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