MANCHESTER Phoenix player/coach Tony Hand has this week acquired his new assistant coach and goal-scoring sniper for the 2009 season.

British ice hockey legend Ed Courtenay has agreed to fill the shoes left by David Beauregard from last season as he and Hand will look to mount a challenge for the English Premier League title at the first time of asking.

The Canadian winger stands at a massive 6ft 4ins and has a mountain of experience in both American and British leagues having started his professional career in 1985.

He has iced for NHL side San Jose Sharks more than 40 times and over the past 12 ice hockey seasons, only three have not been this side of the Atlantic as Courtenay has iced for Sheffield Steelers, Belfast Giants, Newcastle Vipers and the now defunct Ayr Scottish Eagles.

In three seasons with the Belfast Giants as player/coach, Courtenay tallied an impressive 184 points and Phoenix fans know exactly who is coming to Manchester next month having seen Courtenay ice against both the Phoenix and the Manchester Storm throughout the Super league-era.

During his spells with the Steelers and the Scottish Eagles, Courtenay and Hand iced together and proved to be an excellent combination leading both teams to successful seasons whilst ruining net-minders save percentages up and down the country along the way.

Talking about his new signing, player/coach Tony Hand said: “Eddie and I have been friends for a number of years and it goes without saying that I’m very pleased that he’s coming to Manchester this season.

“Eddie is a great player and an outstanding goalscorer and passing forty, like myself, has not blunted his ambition to succeed.”

Wherever Courtenay has played he has established himself as a leading point scorer and the Phoenix fans will be looking for him to add to his list of honours as the club makes it debut season in the EPL.

However, along with his goal-scoring skills, Courtenay has been hired to become assistant coach to Tony Hand and they both will look to guide the younger stars up the table and into a title challenging position.

Courtenay said: “Tony and I have linked well before and I played with Andre Payette in Newcastle last season and he’s really excited too about coming to Manchester.

“We’ll be the older heads and legs and if we can impart some of our tricks, knowledge and thinking into the youngsters, I think this could be a terrific season for everyone connected with the Phoenix club.”

The Phoenix roster for the coming season is almost complete with only one piece of the puzzle to be filled before the pre-season training gets underway in a couple of weeks.

Hand now has one remaining import slot and will be looking to find a top quality defenceman to lead the young Brits that are already signed up to patrol the blue-line for the new season.