LANCASHIRE Hawks today signed a trio of imports - just days before the new ice hockey season gets underway.

Hawks have spread their wings to capture two highly rated Canadian forwards and an experienced Finnish defenceman - and all three are set to make their British debuts at the Arena this weekend.

Canadians Adrian Lomonaco, 22, Jeff Daniels, 25, and flying Finn Mikka Pyynnonen, 30, will link up with Hawks tomorrow in time for the Autumn Trophy face off against Kingston on Sunday September 7 (face off 6pm).

Lomonaco spent last season with Danish club Vojens, but earned his spurs with a two year stint in the junior A ice hockey leagues in Toronto, notching up an impressive 97 goals and 99 assists in just 96 games.

Fellow Canadian Daniels is a forward/winger who manager Mike Cockayne maintains was impossible to ignore when Hawks officials took a close season scouting trip to North America.

"Jeff is a great player, and he came highly recommended to us. We knew we had to get him to Blackburn as soon as we saw him. Both players are exciting skaters, and both are well capable of netting us lots of points." Finnish defenceman Mikka Pyynnonen, one of the most experienced defencemen in Europe, completes Hawks' hat trick - and is a real steal for the Hawks.

"He's got bags of experience and we're delighted to have him ice for us this season," says Mr Cockayne.

"He's spent a full six seasons in the Finnish Elite league, which is widely regarded as the hardest league in Europe. He will be a tough opponent to beat."

Saturday's away trip to Fife has been called off - as have all ice hockey games in Britain on that date - as a mark of respect for the funeral of the Princess of Wales. A minute's silence will also be observed at Sunday's clash with Kingston.

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