NEW-LOOK Blackburn Hawks are ready to take the English Premier League by storm.

Hawks today revealed two more import captures just days before the new campaign fires off - bringing the number of new faces at the Arena to seven.

Highly-rated Canadian forward Brian Smith and defenceman James Beale from New York's Wagner College team have both signed deals - and are preparing to spearhead a ferocious league assault.

Smith, 19, and Beale, 22, both impressed in top secret trials at the weekend, and will make British debuts for the Hawks on Sunday for the English Cup opener at home to Wightlink from the Isle of Wight.

Hawks have bagged five imports this summer, four of them Canadian. The arrival of Beale and Smith comes on top of Canadian three-pronged strikeforce Chad Brandimore, Lamonte Polet and Andrew Dickson, and Brit stars Gordon Wyte and Jamie Thompson. "Brian and James both came highly recommended and we saw enough at the weekend to know that they are right for this team," says Hawks coach Bobby Haig. "We've invested a lot of time and effort into re-shaping the squad and give Hawks fans something they can be proud of. We've made some bold changes, but the calibre and the skill of the players are not in question, and they will give us an edge this season."

As well as a healthy injection of fresh blood into the side, Hawks have retained the services of several of last season's star players, including impressive netminder Barry Hollyhead and many of the club's outstanding young stars.

Haig said: "Barry has signed on for another term with us, and we're delighted to keep him. Danny Mackriel, Tom Burridge, Billy Price and Ian Hough have also signed new deals. It's fantastic to keep the nucleus of the side together because they all know how each other play, and it should be easier for the new faces to acclimatise."

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