SHARP-SHOOTER Doug Sheppard is one third of the Basingstoke Bison's big scoring line along with fellow Canadians Shawn Maltby and Mike Ford.

Between them, the trio have scored 36 goals so far in this season's Elite League campaign, with Sheppard leading the way. The goal machine has hit the net 16 times so far.

This tally includes two hat-tricks, the first ones in his career since his college days five years ago.

His first trio came in the home game against the Fife Flyers in a 7-2 victory as he had a hand in six of the seven goals. The other hat-trick came in Newcastle during a 5-2 win.

Last season, the Bison managed just one hat-trick all season in the Elite League.

It should come as no surprise to the Bison faithful that the 28-year-old is doing so well. He has a really good work ethic, along with a great combination of skating speed and stick-handling skills, which make him a natural goal scorer.

When I interviewed the new member of the Herd back in the summer, before his arrival in Basingstoke, he said he wasn't a flashy player and that he hoped to record an equal number of goals and assists.

As I write this, he has 32 points, split evenly with 16 goals and 16 assists.

This points tally has put him in the top 10 scorers for the Elite League for most of the season and has been a pleasant surprise for Sheppard.

The Canadian forward said: "When you look around at the calibre of players in this league, it is a great feeling to be among the top points scorers.

"Of course, I am helped in having two good linemates in Shawn (Maltby) and Fordy."

The Herd's leading goal-getter started playing ice hockey at the age of five and spent most of his junior career in and around his home town of Georgetown in Ontario, which is not far from Toronto.

At the age of 19, he moved across Canada to the west coast and played for the Vernon Vipers in season 1995/96.

Ironically, two years earlier, when the team were called the Lakers, a certain Mike Ford was part of the team.

That season proved to be the most memorable for Sheppard so far in his career as the team went on to become Canadian National Junior Champions, with Sheppard the second-highest points scorer on the team.

In the regular season, he returned 103 points (38+65) from 59 games, then in the play-offs he added another 59 points in 30 games, including 18 goals.

The Vipers ended up winning the championship by beating the Melfont Mustangs 2-0 in the final game.

This earned him a scholarship and, for the next four years, he spent his time playing for Providence College on Rhode Island in America.

It was here that he was given the jersey number 28 which, once again, he wears for the Bison this season.

His first season as a professional player was in the East Coast Hockey League playing for the Roanoke Express, where his rookie year proved to be a great one as he returned 69 points from 69 games, hitting the net 30 times, which earned him the player of the year award.

This was where he was spotted by current Bison boss Mark Bernard, who was a netminder for fellow ECHL side Toledo Storm.

The following year he played in the United Hockey League for the New Haven Knights and then made his first trip to Europe to play in Italy for Fassa.

Sheppard said: "I went to Italy through some mates at college. The game over there is a fast, skilled game, with less hitting than in North America and Britain.

"I enjoyed playing out there, but my season was cut short at Christmas when I got injured."

Fully recovered last season, Sheppard was back in North America playing for the Oklahoma City Blazers.

Once again the points flowed, with 49 from 56 games making him the player of the year.

This season he is enjoying himself as a member of the Bison stampede. He said: "The hockey in Britain is what I expected, as is Britain itself.

"The only disappointing thing is the injuries the team have suffered and that the results have not gone our way. The guys in the dressing room will be looking to put that right in the second half of the season to make sure we reach the play-offs."