Release from 08.06.2018
HCB Südtirol Alperia, Moser Medical Graz99ers, HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“, Fehervar AV19, Vienna Capitals, EC VSV, KHL Medvescak Zagreb and HC Orli Znojmo welcomed new players in their team.
HCB Südtirol Alperia has signed big and strong defenseman Markus Nordlund. The 32-year old Fin played for the Krefeld Pinguine last season, scoring 25 points (6G/19A) out of 50 DEL-games. Prior, Nordlund has already defended for clubs in his home-country Finland, where he became Champion with TPS Turku 2010, Sweden and in Switzerland. Besides, Italian youngster Ivan Deluca went from Sterzing to Bozen. The 20-year old forward played 39 Alps Hockey League matches for the „Broncos“ 2017/18, scoring 19 points (11G/8A). Deluca is Italian Nationalteam player as well. Furthermore, 25-year old Canadian defenseman Paul Geiger (last team: South Carolina Stingrays/ECHL) and 22-year old Italo-Canadian Center Massimo Carozza (last club: Concordia University/USports) are new in Bozen and will play their first games on European ice for the Foxes 2018/19. Goalie Jacob Smith and goalscorer Alex Petan continue playing for the South Tyroleans as well.
Defenseman Robin Gartner (SWE) went from Bozen to EC-KAC.
Zagreb signed three defensemen
Ivan Puzić is well known to Medveščak's fans, while Antonin Manavin from Hungarian Fehervar and Kyle Hardy from French Grenoble arrive as fresh reinforcements.
A familiar face in the Den, Ivan Puzić joined the Bears in the beginning of 2018, in the midst of the Bears' return season in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga. The young Croatian defensemen with years of international professional experience in the Czech Republic arrived to Medveščak on loan from HC Vitkovice. He played for Vitkovice also in Hockey Champions League, and so became the first Croat to take part in Hockey Champions League. Last season he played 16 games in Medveščak's jersey, 10 in the regular season and 6 in playoffs, and scored 3 points with 3 assists. A new name on Medveščak's roster for the next EBEL season is going to be the Canadian Kyle Hardy. He arrives to Zagreb from Grenoble, France, where he played last two seasons. His hockey skills are clearly visible with a glance on his statistics. As a defenseman, in the last two seasons, 2016/17 and 2017/18, for Grenoble he played total of 117 games and scores equal (117!) number of points, with 41 goals and 76 assists. Before Grenoble he also played in France, for Dijon (2011-2013) and Chamonix (2013-2015). He temporarily spent one season - 2015/2016 - in Scandinavia, playing for Swedish Tingryds and Ostersunds, and in Britain where he played 10 games for Nottingham Panthers. From 2011 to 2015 he regularly played in the French Cup that he won in 2011/12 with Dijon, and again in 2016/2017 with Grenoble. In 2017/2018 season he played in the Continental Cup with Grenoble. Before arriving to Europe, he played in the Canadian QMAAA League for West Island Lions (2003-2005), and in American USHS-Prep and NCAA leagues (2005-2011).
The French player Antonin Manavian comes to Zagreb from not so distant and to Medveščak's fans well known Hungarian Fehervar, where he played last three seasons, from 2015 to 2018. Since Fehervar did not reach the playoffs in none of the three seasons, Manavian played 122 regular games, scoring 55 points, 23 goals and 32 assists. Before arriving to Hungary, this corpulent 31bn-year-old defenseman, with an extraordinary height of 191 cm, made his career mostly in Europe, and to the less extent in North America. He started his hockey career in Rouen, France, where he later returned through five seasons. Along with Rouen, he played for the other French teams, Le Havre, Grenoble and Angers. In Canada he played in QMJHL League for Acadie-Bathurst Titan and Gatineau Olympiques, and in the US for Bakersfield Condors in ECHL league. Just like Hardy, Manavian also won French national championship! He won his two French champion titles with Grenoble, and three with Rouen, where he also played in the Continental Cup in 2011-2012.
Sille returns to Szekesfehervar
Timotej Sille (SVK) returns to Fehervar AV19. The 22-year old power-forward has already played seven Erste Bank Eishockey Liga-games for the Devils 2015/16. Timotej Sille is the son of Tamás Sille, the former defenseman and Assistant Coach of the club. Last season, the youngster has gone for goals and points for HK Nitra (ten points out of 35 games) and HC Nove Zamky (six points out of 21 games) in his home-country.
Caps signed Dorion, Znojmo goalscorer
Vienna Capitals welcomed defenseman Marc Andre Dorion. The Canadian defended for EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz during the last six season. Besides Ali Wukovits (AUT), Benjamin Nissner (AUT), Julian Großlercher (AUT) and Taylor Vause (CAN) will go for goals and points for the Caps 2018/19 as well.
HC Orli Znojmo added Canadian Cameron Braes to their team. The 27-year old forward played his first season in Europa 2017/18 and he convinced in Thurgau: Braes had 55 points (30G/25A) out of 51 NLB-games.
Ross back in Innsbruck, Spannring in Villach, Caito in Graz
Canadian defenseman Nick Ross went back from HKM Zvolen (SVK) to HC TWK Innsbruck „Die Haie“.
Austrian Nationalteam Forward Patrick Spannring went from EHC LIWEST Black Wings Linz to EC VSV. The Power-Forward scored for the Upper Austrians 76 points out of 302 games during the last seven seasons and has won an Erste Bank Eishockey League title with Linz 2012 as well.
US-American Matt Caito is new in Graz. The 24-year old defenseman has played overseas so far, his last team was Rapid City Rush in the East Cost Hockey League.