Rhys Edwards: ‘Bradford Bulldogs so crucial to my development’
HIGH AIMS: Rhys Edwards has signed a two-way deal between Widnes Wild and Hull Seahawks for the 2023-24 season. Picture: Podium Prints.
RHYS EDWARDS has highlighted his time with Bradford Bulldogs as a major factor in his development - helping him strike a two-way deal with Hull Seahawks in NIHL National.
The 17-year-old has come through the ranks at Bradford and, last year, enjoyed a breakout year while on a two-way deal with NIHL One North team Widnes Wild.
The young, left-hander, saw his time in 2022-23 split between the Bulldogs and the Wild, the majority of his ice time coming at the higher level.
In all, Rhys posted 28 points - including 13 goals - in just 31 games for the Wild.
In 11 appearances for the Bulldogs, he recorded 11 points, five of them goals.
ON TARGET: Rhys Edwards, far right, celebrates scoring a goal against Sutton Sting last season. Picture: Podium Prints.
Earlier this summer Rhys agreed to return to the Wild, but last season’s form and word-of-mouth was also enough to bring him to the attention of Seahawks’ head coach Matty Davies.
After a few skates with the East Yorkshire outfit, a deal was agreed for Rhys to go on a two-way deal between Hull and Widnes next season.
It promises to be a busy year ahead for him, but the Bulldogs is a club which will continue to remain close to his heart and he will remain registered as an Under-18 with the club.
“Working very closely with Andy Brown has helped put me at the standard I am now,” said Rhys.
“The work he has done with me at times - sometimes on a one-to-one basis - has made me such a better player. Just being at Bradford has helped me so much.
“Bradford is definitely one of the places for a player wanting to build up to go and eventually play in the National league, or the Elite League in their careers.
“The work they do there, is geared towards helping you develop to then go off and play for different clubs as seniors.
“They don’t necessarily want their top-end juniors to play seniors there - they want to see them moving out to different clubs, in higher leagues. It has played such a huge part in my development and I’m grateful for the time I’ve spent there.”
Head coach Andy Brown said he was delighted to see Rhys flourish with Widnes last season and hopes he can go on to have a similar impact with Hull.
IMPRESSED: Bradford Bulldogs’ head coach Andy Brown.
"Rhys has been one of our more outstanding junior players over recent years and it was great to see him take major steps in his senior career when on a two-way between ourselves and Widnes last season,” said Andy.
"He plays with a certain edge which you sometimes need and he has plenty of skill to go along with that. Another big positive with Rhys is his ability to play either in D or as a forward - as a coach you love to have that kind of option.
“Getting a two-way deal with Hull is only going to make him a better player - you play and train with better players, you become a better player.”
Seahawks boss Davies said several people had alerted him to Rhys, leading him to extend an invite to hook up with the team earlier this summer.
“Rhys did well last year at Widnes, he was almost a point a game in that league which for a 16-year-old is very impressive,” said Davies.
“I was speaking to different people who know him personally and know his game - Owen Bruton was a big one in that respect and I’ve had good chats with Joey Coulter over at Widnes.
“So I just wanted to see him and I invited him down to train with us and I liked him straightaway. He’s a kid who has got a bit about him, which I like. He’s not scared of anything - he’ll jump straight in there.
“He’s really skilled and there’s obviously a lot of stuff we can work on, but he’s got tons of potential and has all the tools to be a really good player.”