OXFORD City Stars players and staff found themselves being thrown off a giant inflatable donut into a lake and whizzing around on a speed boat at the weekend.

It was all part of a day’s team-bonding event with a difference.

They took to the 4Lakes leisure resort in the Cotswolds, for a day of adrenaline-filled adventure on the water, including roaring around on giant inflatables towed by a speed-boat.

It was a way of relaxing before Stars’s pre-season preparation as they gear up for the eagerly-awaited NIHL2 South campaign.

Head coach Kenny Redmond, said: “It was a brilliant day.

“With a lot of new signings it was good to get the squad together for a team-building event like this and really start to build our team-spirit and culture.

“It was fantastic to see the players mucking in together, working together and having a good laugh.

“On the back of a strong first training session a few days before, it is all part of the building blocks and setting the right standards for the league campaign.

“The lads tried to get me in the water, but I was happy to watch and enjoy from the riverbank!”

Captain, Darren Elliott, added: “We had an incredible day, it was brilliant fun.”

“A few of the new lads mentioned they’d never experienced anything like it at other ice hockey clubs, so it shows we are doing the right things as a club. The players are buzzing for the new season and can really sense the club is growing.”

“It is all part of the bigger picture,” said director Greig Box Turnbull.

“We want to instil the right club culture, everyone is part of the team and has a role to play. It’s not about individuals, but developing the club and the community as a whole.

“Culture is vitally important and Saturday was a great success in bringing everybody together to relax, get to know each other and develop a strong team-spirit early.”