Defenceman Aaron Wilkins and Forward Haydn Tucker (both 17 years old) join the Thunder roster for the upcoming 2025/26 season as prospects, on a 2-way agreement with Guildford U19’s who will play in a new national U19 division.

Aaron trained with Thunder for the back end of last season, appearing in 2 games as injury cover and impressed Head Coach Will Fry. Haydn attended club trials in April and has been skating with the team over the summer. Both players will now train with the club on a regular basis and look to secure a spot on the roster as part of their continued development.

Haydn is looking forward to his first opportunity at senior level:

I’m excited to be taking the step up to senior hockey with Thunder and looking forward to getting experience at the next level to continue my hockey journey.

Aaron also commented on his decision to return to Milton Keynes after a short spell with the club last season:

I’m so excited to be joining such a great group and a team who are so dedicated in this journey ahead of doing great things together.

Head Coach Will Fry has been impressed by the quality and work ethic of both players:

We’re thrilled to have Aaron and Haydn joining us. With both holding prospect status it is important that they continue to play out their junior years and get that experience and enjoyment of being around their peers in what promises to be a high level U19 national league next season. Both of them have demonstrated real quality that we want to explore and support their growth into senior level. Aaron did a fantastic job coming in as injury cover for us last season, he was put into probably the hardest position possible with the opposition he featured against but his commitment and approach to adversity was ideal. He moves the puck very well, and has good IQ and positioning around his own net. Hadyn is a new face for us, but has been with us during our summer ice and impressed me with his strength and speed. I think he is in a very similar position to when Sean came to us on a 2-way with Guildford last season, and impressed in NIHL 1 leading to an England U19 call up. Both Aaron and Haydn have that same drive and potential, its now our job to harness that and push them on to the next level. 

As Aaron and Haydn are joining as prospects they will not have their own dedicated jersey numbers, you can however sponsor our Blood Jerseys, which they will wear, via our Own & Loan scheme for next season at a cost of £60 each. Please email mkthundericehockey@gmail.com to claim them now.