Bristol Pitbulls coach Rich Hargreaves is confident his new ice hockey side can achieve promotion in its debut season after watching the first of three trials for new players.

More than 30 skaters were lured to the Bristol ice rink on Thursday night by the chance to play for Hargreaves – and the former professional was impressed by the talent on display.

"I saw a lot of potential," said the 30-year-old Bristolian whose career took in the Cardiff Devils, Swindon Wildcats, Wightlink Raiders and the Slough Jets in the top tier of English ice hockey.

"There are a lot of guys I could happily coach and put into a team. It's a good chance to find someone who has been going under the radar and not picked up by any professional clubs."

The Bristol Pitbulls won a place back in the professional limelight of the English National League after a 'friendly' 13-9 win over the Vectis Tigers in December who finished second in last season's ENL.

"I'm looking for a first or second spot finish" said player/coach Hargreaves. "We'll get promoted and then obviously next year it's rebuilding again. We have a lot of potential.

"What the fans can expect is exciting hockey. The best way to put it is rugby on ice. There's contact, it's fast, there's lots of goals, lots of hits so we pretty much cover everyone's specific sport."

Of the hopefuls on show, some had travelled further than others. Fen Rowan, 20, a bus driver from Exeter, gave up the sport a year ago after graduating from the Under 19s in Bristol. There was no senior side for him to play for. Sporting a new pair of skates he now has the chance of a senior career.

Student George Green, 17, from Radstock was competing for a place on the wing and hoping his youthfulness would make up for a lack of experience while 32-year-old sales rep Marcus Pearson from Downend represented the other end of the age spectrum.

"I've never played for a pro team," said Pearson, "so my chances are 50/50 at best. But there's amazing potential here and Rich has lots of contacts. With the popularity of Dancing on Ice and the like it's a good time to raise the profile of the sport."

Graham Goodman, 32, an IT consultant from Emerson's Green has been watching ice hockey for 25 years and has taken on the role of team photographer. He said: "They've got some players who could be playing two divisions higher. From what I've seen they have the skills to be successful."