Superleague star Steve Moria has been named as the new coach for the Basingstoke Bison next season - and he intends to carry on playing too.

The 38-year-old Canadian forward, who hails from Vancouver, donned a Bison shirt for the first time at a specially arranged press conference on Wednesday night.

Out-going coach Charlie Colon told the gathering that Moria's track record would speaks for itself. He is one of the biggest names in the modern era of British ice hockey, having first crossed the Atlantic in 1986 to play for the Fife Flyers.

Colon has moved up to regional director of hockey operations.

Moria (pictured), who has signed a one-year contract with the Bison, has been one of the top points-scorers in the game, with more than 1,500 league points to his name. Many of these came during several successful seasons with the Cardiff Devils between 1988 and 2001.

The penalty-killing expert helped the Welsh side to promotion to the Heineken Premier League, and was top points-scorer in the league and player of the season in 1990, when he collected 175 points from 30 games, including 95 goals.

During the mid-'90s he spent two seasons with the Blackburn Hawks in his first player/coach role.

"Those two years were a springboard that got me ready for this job, which is going to be fun," he said.

Moria went on to play for the Swindon Wildcats before returning to the Devils in 1995. He comes to Basingstoke after spending a season with the Nottingham Panthers.

He told the Basingstoke press and fans that he would miss playing Superleague hockey but is excited about his new job.

Only two players from last year's Bison team remain on contract, but Moria kept his cards close to his chest on the subject of recruits for next season.

"I have got a lot of homework to do over the next couple of weeks, and will make lots of phone calls to all the players to gather knowledge," he said.

However Moria is firm about what it takes to make it with the Bison.

"I want to concentrate on getting the best players available. They must be talented and have the will to win. I believe that a player's mental make-up is as important as their physical presence," he said.