Release from 12.05.2017

Linz and VSV both signed import forward and extended locals

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On Friday EC VSV and EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz both announced a signing and some contract extensions. While Villach signed 27-year-old Canadian center Jordan Hickmott, the American Jake Dowell is the Upper Austrians' first new arrival for the 2017-18 Erste Bank Eishockey Liga campaign.

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Villach strengthened their offense with the latest signings of Jordan Hickmott. After five years playing for the University of Alberta in CIS, the 27-year-old Canadian came overseas last season for the first time. The center won the Slovak championship with HC Banska Bystrica, scoring 68 points (27G, 41A) in 71 games. In addition, the blue shirts extended contracts of homegrown players Nico Brunner and Christian Jennes.
 
Jake Dowell joins Linz
In search of a leading player, EHC LIWEST Black Wings signed American Jake Dowell who received the AHL "sportsmanship award" in 2014. The 32-year-old not only played 552 games in American Hockey League, but also hit the ice for 159 NHL games where he gained eleven goals as well as 22 assists for Chicago and Minnesota. Now he heads to Europe for the first time to play for Linz where he already knows coach Troy Ward from the past. The Upper Austrians also extended contracts with talents Gerd Kragl, Laurens Ober, David Franz and Stefan Freunschlag.