Yet another welcome return announcement to another of last season’s Gold and Blue as Ollie Baldock signs on for a fifth season for the Raiders, having moved down the A12 from Chelmsford where he spent his junior career and the early stages of his senior career under the tutelage of Coach Sean Easton.
Ollie’s competitive nature regularly gets under the skin of the opposition often to good effect as witnessed in the Spring Cup, undoubtedly assisting with putting star players off their game.
Ollie has now made 128 Raiders appearances , for an Appearance overall ranking of joint 52nd,alongside Richard Whiting. Ollie has scored a total of 25 goals with 47 Assists for a total of 72 points for an all time Raiders scoring ranking of 82nd.
Ollie’s junior career was at Chelmsford. In addition he made two appearances for England. Ollie showed his scoring and goal making prowess in junior hockey averaging 2.4 points per game.
Ollie progressed into Senior hockey, making his Chelmsford Warriors (NIHL2) and Chieftains (NIHL1) debuts in 2014/15 season. In the following season, his first full season in Senior hockey, which was split between Chieftains and Warriors, Ollie was a member of the Chieftains team who won all four trophies on offer; and a member of the Warriors who won all three NIHL trophies. In total Ollie has made 96 Chieftains / Warriors appearances, scoring 61 goals and 69 points for 130 points.
Ollie is another player who whilst enjoying the hockey available during the Spring Cup cannot wait to get a full league season underway.
“The Spring Cup was a great experience to play in but with no fans it just didn’t feel the same. With a full crowd and a good team I hope that my fourth season (excludes the Spring Cup shortened 20-21) will be a competitive and successful season for the Raiders.
“But most of all just looking forward to getting back to normal”
Hopefully with declining infection numbers and reduced restrictions and social distancing we are all able to deliver the “normal” that all players and fans understandably crave.
Sean Easton know better than anyone what Ollie offers on his return.
“Ollie takes pride in his defensive game, a solid two way centre making plays on the puck and blocking shots off it.
“Ollie plays like a Bulldog, battles hard, finishes his hits and puts his body on the line in his defensive zone.”
Welcome back Ollie!
