Slammers Welcome Back Voelkel In Time For Flames Clash

Brian Voelkel will make his return for the this Saturday night, as they take on the Rockingham Flames.

The American has spent the last few months playing in Norway and joins back to a very different looking Slammers team.

Tre Nichols left in the off season to play in the SEABL with the Hobart Chargers, coach Charles Nix decided to leave on family reasons and the team find themselves winless after six games.

Last season, Voelkel lead the State Basketball League in both rebounds (16.1 per game) and assists (8.5 per game) as the Slammers almost knocked off the eventual champions, Perth Redbacks in the Quarterfinal series.

Talking to Triple M's Out of Bounds, Slammers up and comer Travis Durnin talked about his role in the team.

"His court vision is crazy. When he has the ball and we're all moving, he'll still find you no matter," Durnin said.

"He just so smart, his basketball IQ is just crazy. So it'll be great him handling the ball and Michael Lay coming off screens."

As for Durnin, he celebrated his 50th game a few weeks ago, which unfortunately finished with him being carried off with an ankle injury.

But has since returned and getting time as a starter, which was a goal leading into the season.

"I tried to put a lot of hard work in my game in the off season and it showed in the A-grade Bunbury Basketball Association where I led the league in average points.

"I spoke to (Carl Catalano, coach of the Slammers) at the start of the season saying that was a goal (being a starter) for myself and I've just worked hard at it."

The Slammers will need at least 13 wins in the remaining 20 games in the season to make the playoffs.

They will not only be buoyed by Voelkel's return, but also new import Brandon Thompson, who is a friend of Nichols from Texas.

Thompson is expected to suit up for the Slammers from next weekend.