GRAND-SLAM winners Nottingham Panthers have confirmed a new two-year deal for local-born winger Rob Lachowicz.
It is basically a contract extension for the 23-year-old who, next season, would have been on the second year of a two-year deal.
Since spending a year with lower-end side Manchester Phoenix, Lachowicz has improved immeasurably under the guidance of coach Corey Neilson who said: "He will get even better.
"We are all thrilled to have him signed up to take him beyond next season."
Meanwhile, it will be announced later this week that Rob Dowd, 24, is on his way back to Sheffield – his hometown club – after a year in Sweden.
Former Panther Ashley Tait, 37 – who spent last season as player-assistant coach at Steelers – has been sacrificed to make way on the wage bill for his GB team-mate.
Jason Hewitt who was reportedly axed two weeks ago, has now be retained as a cheaper option by new coach Doug Christiansen, who was on the GB coaching staff for the recent World Championships in Hungary and coached Dowd in Belfast.