AT JUST 19, Dean Skinns is now the longest-serving member of the Basingstoke Bison line-up, with this being his third season.

The teenager was thrown in at the deep end when he made his Bison debut on September 15, 2001, in Slough.

The Wella-backed side were in a winner-takes-all clash with the Slough Jets for a place in the semi-finals of the Findus Challenge Cup.

After the first 40 minutes, the Bison led 2-0 with Stephen Foster having turned away 22 shots. Dean takes up the story.

"I went into the dressing room in the second break and was told Fossie was not feeling well and I would be in goal for the last period.

"I was so nervous and the pressure was on as we needed to win the game. I remember a shot crashing off the crossbar over my head early in the period, and I was literally shaking, but I managed to keep them out. We won the game and it is still my most memorable match."

The Bison ran out winners 3-0 with Dean facing four shots in the final session. The player who gave Dean an unwelcome wake-up call was Canadian Adam Lamarre.

Dean's only other experience before that was playing a total of 13 minutes for the Basingstoke Buffalo over three play-off games the previous season.

The night following the Jets game Dean got his first start in an 18-2 win over Romford, and a week later he made his league debut in a 5-2 win in Edinburgh, playing his first- ever full game.

In the same season, Dean shared another shut-out, this time with Rob Schistad taking over for the final 40 minutes in an 18-0 home win over the Cardiff Devils.

In that match he turned away 15 shots in a man-of-the-match performance. His heroics at the end of the year were honoured as he was voted the Most Improved British Player by the members of the Basingstoke Bison Supporters Club.

Last season, Dean was joined for a year in the Herd by his older brother Ashley, who has since moved to the Wightlink Raiders for this season.

His brother's home rink is one Dean least enjoys playing in, as he finds it too small.

The young Bison netminder has been looking forward to trips to the big arenas of Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield. In the second weekend of this season, he got to play in Sheffield.

"It is really strange as Sheffield on the ice looks a lot smaller than Basingstoke because of the way the seats come down to the edge of the rink," said Dean.

Having been born here in Basingstoke, Dean also went to school here, attending Manor Field infant and junior schools and then Brighton Hill Sports College.

He still gets a buzz from playing for his home town team.

"It is really nice when you hear them chanting Deano while you are on the ice," he said.

Dean came to the sport later than most, having been a roller hockey goalie for the Basingstoke Bullets. He was taught by David Hurst, who is also now an ice hockey goalie with the Wightlink Raiders.

He admits that having switched sports he no longer plays in goal at roller hockey and explains why.

"In ice hockey you can slide into position, but in roller hockey you can't and I found I was leaving great gaps at the posts for forwards to shoot past me."

It is no surprise that another netminder is his sporting hero - double Stanley Cup winner Chris Osgood.

Dean said: "Chris was with the Detroit Redwings and winning Stanley Cups when I first started watching him. He is one of the very few goalies to score a goal from his end of the ice and have a fight with a fellow goalie."

The young shot-stopper would like to emulate his hero by scoring, but is happy to leave the fighting to others.

Most fans would not relish playing in goal and the puck being fired at them at great speed. However, Dean is happy to do the job and said: "The only time it's scary is when the puck is aimed at your head. At any other time it is a matter of keeping your eye on the puck and there is no problem."

Dean demonstrated his hand/eye co-ordination on the opening weekend of the season by catching a flying puck while sitting on the Bison bench, saving it from hitting the Belfast Giant's players.

His long-term ambition is to be a starting netminder and he said: "I know I will have to train and work hard but it would be worthwhile if I achieved my aim."