 |
| Widnes Wild's Mikey Gilbert is back for his eighth season (Photo by Keith & Jenny Davies) |
The Widnes Wild team have announced that highly-rated forward Mikey Gilbert will be returning to the club for the forthcoming 2024/25 NIHL season.
This will be Gilbert’s eighth season at Widnes and, in his seven seasons to date – including the Covid lockdown cup series - he has played 199 games for the Wild, contributing 90 goals and 134 assists, picking up 204 penalty minutes.
Mikey was a member of the Wild team that won three Laidler Play Off titles in a row in 2017,18 & 19, secured the Laidler Division league title in 2019, won the 2021 NIHL North Cup and Division 1 National Championship and the Moralee Cup in 2022.
He is also the General Manager at the Planet Ice rink in Widnes and head coach of the highly successful Wild Junior Academy.
Talking about Gilbert’s return for the Wild, Player-Coach Tom Jackson commented:
“Mikey has come off arguably one of his better seasons playing in the Black and Yellow. He has been an obvious decision for me to bring back to the ranks of the team.”
“I will be looking for him to help guide this team in the right direction and show his worth as the season unfolds as he has in different ways throughout his time with the Wild.”
“I will be leaning on Mikey for guidance with his experience and hoping he will be able to share his past experience with the local schools when we intend on bringing more fans to the sport of ice hockey in and around Widnes.”
Gilbert added:
“Not long after Tom Jackson was announced (as head coach), he contacted me regarding my plans and that he wanted me as part of the team this coming season. It was a privilege to be asked to sign back up again and I was quick to respond with a yes.”
“The past couple of seasons haven't lived up to what we are used to as a club at Widnes, which was a given due to the step up in leagues. However, this is a challenge and as players and as a club we must challenge ourselves to do better and push each other to limits. If we became content with an easy life in the league below then we wouldn’t be doing things correctly.”
“It has been frustrating with how things have been going for us recently results wise, however that comes with a re-build and time just has to be given in order to get the change into results.”
“I hear lots of good things from TJ and the GM of the team which all build on those factors and more. I feel there are exciting times ahead and I am really looking forward to what the future brings and I am ready to battle once more for the Black and Yellow!”
