Forward Xander Robinson returns to Thunder for a second season, this time wearing #14 changing from the #83 jersey he wore during last year’s campaign. The 19 year old led Thunder’s scoring charts during 2024/25 with 16 points in 35 games, impressing during a challenging campaign for the team. Robinson is no stranger to NIHL 2, and will be hoping to make his mark on the league once again, with three solid seasons with Basingstoke Buffalo where he registered 24 goals, including the game winning goal in the 2023 NIHL 2 South playoff final at Alexandra Palace.

Xander is fully bought into the ongoing player development project between Thunder and Storm, and has been regularly assisting on the ice with both the U16’s and U19’s over the past year, something he is keen to continue alongside his ambitions to further his own career:

Last season was tough for everyone involved but we made great progress in terms of our own development. I’m pleased to be returning to continue my journey with Thunder and with Will. I’ve enjoyed being part of the development project with MK Storm – the pathway through to Thunder is key for ongoing player development in MK and I’m proud to be able to inspire the next generation of players. I want to continue to. progress my game to the next level, and will be looking to start next season fast in a league I know well.

Head Coach Will Fry commented on Xander’s return:

Xander came in last season and really demonstrated his quality consistently throughout the season. Whilst we didn’t get the results we wanted at times, he scored a number of key goals from us and showcased his ability to create ‘moments of magic’. He reads the game well, has good technical ability and knows how to put the puck in the net. I’m really proud of his continued support of the juniors, giving up his time to help them succeed and inspire them. I think we will see big things from Xander this season and offensively he will cause a lot of teams a headache. Hopefully we can use the upcoming season as a springboard to push Xander onto the level that we all know he is capable of achieving and he gets the recognition his game deserves.

Xanders Home & Away jerseys are available now for own and loan at a cost of £80 each. Please email mkthundericehockey@gmail.com to reserve yours.