The YKK sponsored Widnes Wild are pleased to announce the return of Joe Greaves for the forthcoming 2022/23 NIHL season.
Greaves joined the Wild last season for his second spell with the club and was an important part of the team that finished 3rd in the Moralee Division and won the Moralee Cup. He scored 7 goals and 9 assists in 23 games across all competitions over the course of the season and picked up 153 penalty minutes.
Greaves has a huge amount of experience, having played over 280 league and cup games at NIHL level. He played junior hockey at Bradford, Deeside and Manchester and also a season of University hockey for the Manchester Metros teams. He played 8 NIHL seasons at Altrincham for the Aces and their predecessors the Manchester Minotaurs and Trafford Metros, part of the 2014/215 season with the Wild and also a season with the Blackburn Hawks.
A very popular player due to his robust and enthusiastic approach to games, Joe has occasionally been criticised for being “over-pugilistic” and has actually accrued a career total of over 1000 PIM. However, in all fairness to the player, it has to be pointed out that his penalty figures for last season are somewhat skewed due to a glitch on the EIHA scoring system and, while he was still the Wild’s “Penalty King”, his actual figures are not quite as bad as they appear on paper.
Talking about Greaves’ return to Widnes, Wild head coach Richard Haggar said:
“Joe needs no introduction. He settled in really well last season and showed the strength and shooting power he possesses. He always has a will to succeed and drive the team forward which I expect to see more of this season. He is a very talented guy which I know we will see more of this season with him hitting the back of the net on a regular basis.”
Joe Greaves said: “It’s great to be asked to return to the club for another season. It’s a great set up in Widnes and the chemistry with the team says it all for me. We’ve had some great additions this summer and I’m looking forward to getting going.”
Joe Greaves will once again wear the number 94 shirt. His home, away and warm up shirts are available to “own and loan” at cost of £80.00 per shirt for the season.
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