Curtis Warburton (Photo by Dean Woolley)
The
Deeside D1 Dragons team have revealed an impressive quartet of netminders to
backstop their 2026/27 Moralee Division campaign, with two new signings and two
returnees.
The
first of the new arrivals is 24 year old Curtis Warburton who will join on a
two way arrangement with Sheffield. He is part of the highly respected
Sheffield development pathway and will also play with the Steeldogs in the NIHL
National Division and Sheffield Steelers in the Elite League if he is called
upon.
Warburton
has over 100 games at National Division level under his belt and, as well as
the Steeldogs, has also had spells with Hull Seahawks, Solway Sharks and the
Slough-based Bees. He has also played a number of Elite League games with the
Steelers.
Dragons
Head Coach Mike Clancy said of Warburton:
“Curtis
is someone that has competed at the highest level and will allow us to compete
at the very top end of all competitions. He’s a fantastic addition to our team
and, at 24 years of age, has a huge future ahead of him. We’re delighted to
welcome him to the club and look forward to supporting his continued
development alongside the Sheffield Steelers and Sheffield Steeldogs.”
The
other new netminder is Ryan Wardell who played for the Billingham Buccaneers in
the Laidler Division last season and previously had stints with Whitley
Warriors and Billingham Stars in the Moralee Division.
Ryan Wardell
(Photo by Vince Cowell)
Wardell
had the top Save Percentage in the Laidler Division last season with 94.35%
from his 12 league matches and an impressive 2.29 Goals Against Average.
Mike
Clancy said of Wardell:
“Ryan has the quality to play at a high level.
His 6ft 3in stature and athleticism have made him one of the top prospects at
the age of 21. The work he has done coaching the junior club in Billingham has
also been noted, and I’m sure he will do similar great things with the Dragons
juniors. He’s a great lad and will be a positive addition to the dressing
room.”
The
Dragons’ netminding group for the new season is completed with the return of
Jace Gledhill and Phil Pearson.
Former
Manchester Storm and Nottingham junior Gledhill comes back for his fourth
season with the Dragons, having also iced a number of times for the Deeside
Ducks development team during the 2024/25 season.
He
played in 11 Moralee Division games for the senior Dragons last season,
recording an impressive 2.63 Goals per Game Average and 89.90 Save Percentage.
Seasoned
veteran Phil Pearson also returns for his fourth season with the Dragons,
although it is his fifth overall on Deeside if you count the two games that he
played for the erstwhile Flintshire Freeze back in the 2011/12 season.
Pearson
brings a huge amount of experience to the Dragons with over 200 appearances at
NIHL level under his belt with spells at Blackburn, Bradford and Widnes, among
others.
This
season, he’ll play a key role in mentoring and helping coaching the other
netminders, along with Coach Dave Clancy, while still being ready to pull on
the pads whenever the team needs him.
He
is also involved in coaching the junior teams and will be Head Coach of the new
Deeside Dragons women’s team for this season.
