Raiders return for Supporters' Player of Year Huggett

Former Chafford pupil Huggett played some of his early junior hockey for Romford, before the closure of the old Rom Valley Way rink.

After joining Guildford's junior programme, he represented England under-13s at the World Pee-Wee Championships in Quebec in 2015, and won the England under-16 title.

He then switched to Chelmsford's juniors and played for England under-14s the following season and earned Great Britain under-16 honours.

Havering schoolboys and former Romford team-mates Danny Jackson (Marshalls Park), Daniel Hitchings (Royal Liberty), Tommy Huggett (Chafford) and Brad Windebank (Royal Liberty) were picked for the England under-14s in 2016 (Image: Archant)

Huggett returned to Romford when the Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre opened and made his senior debut for the Junior Raiders in National League Division Two South in 2018-19.

He made it onto the second all-star team that season and went on to score 50 goals and 56 assists in 55 matches, while also breaking into the senior Raiders line-up.

Having appeared in the 12-game Spring Cup series in 2021, Huggett enjoyed a breakout season for Sean Easton's side last term as he scored 11 goals and 11 assists and appeared in all 59 games, taking his career tally to 30 points (15+15) in 105 matches.

The 19-year-old's performances earned him the vote of the fans as he claimed the Supporters' Player of the Year award at the club's end of season presentation evening and he joins the likes of captain Aaron Connolly, Dan Scott, Tom Relf, Jake Sylvester, Brandon Ayliffe, Jacob Ranson and Jack Cooper in returning to a gold and blue jersey for the new campaign.

Raiders are set to make more announcements in the coming days as they continue to prepare for the new 11-team division, following the additions of Bristol Pitbulls - who have moved up from Division One South - and Hull Seahawks.