NOTTINGHAM Panthers have signed highly-rated American netminder Craig 'K-Wall' Kowalski.

The 5ft 8ins Carolina Hurricanes draft pick (2000) comes to the UK after a season in Italy. Before that he played at North Michegan University and then had four years of professional ice hockey in the ECHL and he had three spells at the even higher level of the AHL.

The GMB Panthers were forced to seek a new netminder after last year's starter Kevin St Pierre at first signed a contract to stay but later changed his mind and opted to remain with his family in America and retire from the sport.

Panthers head coach Corey Neilson is delighted to have signed the 29-year-old.

"Craig was one of my top targets when I was recruiting in my first year in charge here and he has stayed on my radar ever since," he said.

"At that time he was playing some great hockey and he was regularly in demand from the higher level AHL.

"I have played against him and he has the ability to win games for his teams almost single-handed.

"He has proved he can stand the pressure of facing a lot of rubber while also being able to maintain his concentration in games where he only has around 25 shots to deal with. His numbers are fantastic.

"He had a tricky start to his European career on an expansion team in Italy last year but even there his stick-handling skills shone through and he even scored a goal!

"He's desperate to win, wants to get that winning feeling back and he wants to be part of a good team with big ambitions.

"He says he wants to prove himself all over again and that fits with what we're aiming for this year. Every guy is going to earn what he gets, every night we play."