NETMINDER Steve Fone has re-signed for his sixth season with the Manchester Phoenix after back stopping them to the EPL title last season.

Fone, 26, has won two league titles and a playoff crown since joining the Phoenix as starting netminder in 2009/10 season and was picked as the leagues top netminder in the 1st All Star Team for last season.

He posted his best ever save percentage for the Phoenix last season, finishing the regular season with .913% across 53 games played.

In previous years he was back up netminder for the Coventry Blaze in the Elite League before being loaned out to Romford Raiders, Basingstoke Bison and short three game for the Phoenix before joining them full time in 2009.

Fone remarked on signing for his sixth season: “It is great to be back with Phoenix for another year. They are a great organisation to work for and the fans are the best in the league.

“Winning the league for the second time was great and I hope there are many more opportunities to win trophies with Phoenix.”

Player coach Tony Hand added: “Foney has been one of the best netminders in the EPL for years. He had a great season for us last time out and played a big part in our Championship win.”

Meanwhile Hand has also snapped up promising netminder Declan Ryan from EPL rivals Telford Tigers.

The move sees Phoenix having the strongest netminding tandem of recent years with Ryan playing impressively as starting goalie in Telford last season.

Ryan, 21, hails from Whaley Bridge and has iced for Sheffield Spartans and the Trafford Metros in the English National League before moving up and spending four seasons with the Tigers in the EPL.

Hand said on signing Ryan: “Declan is a fine up and coming netminder and will benefit from training and playing with Stephen Fone. He always played well against Phoenix so it will be good to have him wearing our colours this coming season.”