AARON Nell believes that he has recruited a player that will make a deafening rumble at the Link Centre in Maxim Birbraer.

After two seasons with Telford Tigers, the 35-year-old forward, who became the first Israeli player to be drafted by an NHL team when he was picked in the third round of the 2000 NHL entry draft by the New Jersey Devils, has opted to sign for the Swindon Wildcats.

A day after announcing the departure of Canadian Carlo Finucci, Cats have unveiled ‘Boom Boom’ Birbraer, who has racked up 116 points in 104 appearances in the English Premier League to date, as well as 169 penalty minutes, as the latest man to sign on the dotted line as part of Nell’s 2016-17 roster.

The Swindon chief thinks Birbraer’s full-blooded commitment will endear him to the Link Centre faithful and provide his team with another vital on-ice leader.

“We’re delighted that we’re able to bring someone like him in and we think that he’s going to be a very good addition,” said Nell.

“Max is somebody that comes to play every night. He’s a physical player that hits like a truck and on a small ice pad like ours, you’re always going to know when Max is on the ice because he’s always going to be giving 100 per cent.

“We think he’s going to fit right in. He’s got a team-first mentality and he’s someone that’s committed to coming and trying to make us a better hockey team.

“It’s an important signing for us and I’m very happy about it.”

Birbraer never featured in the NHL after being drafted by New Jersey, instead spending three seasons with the club’s American Hockey League affiliate club, the Albany River Rats.

Across the pond, he also enjoyed spells with the San Antonio Rampage, Laredo Bucks, San Diego Gulls and Long Beach Ice Dogs, before first arriving in British hockey in 2006.

Birbraer spent seven of the next eight seasons with the Cardiff Devils, scoring 430 points in just under 400 appearances and also accumulating more than 500 minutes in the penalty box.

Off the ice, the former Isreal international has also been involved in running coaching camps alongside Cats’ veteran netminder Stevie Lyle, a former Cardiff team-mate.

Birbraer saidd: “I’d like to thank the Swindon Wildcats for giving me the opportunity and I hope I can be a vital part in the building process of my new club.

“I’m grateful for the management and coaching staff’s belief in me, and now I hope to find out the secret behind Swindon’s good record against Telford in recent years and continue in the same fashion.

“I am hoping to add more fire power and physicality to an already gifted offensive core and I am looking forward to joining up with the team ahead of the new season.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Telford Tigers organisation, fans, office staff, coaches and most importantly, the players for an amazing two years at the club.

“I am excited for next season with the Cats now though, and more importantly, I hope to be lifting some trophies for the red and whites.”

Meanwhile, teenage forward Owen Griffiths won’t be returning to Swindon next term after signing for Peterborough Phantoms.

The 19-year-old Great Britain U20 international, arrived at the Link Centre last summer from Wightlink Raiders but only managed to rack up a single point during his maiden EPL campaign.