MANCHESTER Phoenix player coach Tony Hand has moved to secure the signing of British forward James Archer.

Archer arrives at Phoenix after playing for Elite League side Hull Stingrays last season as part of a two-way deal with the Sheffield Scimitars.

After the Stingrays ceased options last week, Hand moved quickly to bring Archer to Manchester before the Stingrays were revived.

The Sheffield born winger is the replacement for his former team-mate Robert Farmer, who left Phoenix over the summer to join the Ottawa 67s in Canada.

Hand said: “James is quite simply a really good hockey player. He's a good skater, he's tough, he's got energy and he gets goals. That's exactly what we are looking for.”

Archer, who has had a loan spell with the Coventry Blaze, said he was looking forward to the season with Phoenix.”

Archer’s signing opens up a chance to bring in another import defenceman along with a forward, although Hand previously said he would like to bring in two forwards.

Hand said: “I'm looking all the time, and always speaking to agents. We still have three weeks and I want to make sure we are signing the right players, not just getting imports for the sake of it.”