Release from 24.05.2017

Zell am See signs first import player, Ritten extends three

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EK Zeller Eisbären announced the signing of Jussi Tapio for the upcoming Sky Alps Hockey League season. The 31-year-old Finn, who gained experience in different European leagues over the years, is the first import player of the polar bears. In addition, champion Rittner Buam extended contracts with Thomas Spinell, Dan Tudin and Hannes Treibenreif.

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Tapio started his career with TPS Turku and played in the first and second Finnish league for long time. In the 2010-11 campaign, he also played in the European Trophy with his home club, facing EC Red Bull Salzburg among others. One year later he won Mestis league, Finland's second division, with Vaasan Sport, scoring most points (47) for his team. Afterwards he transferred to Denmark, Sweden, Hungary and Poland, before joining German third division club EV Weiden last season. Tapio scored five goals and seven assists in eleven games.
 
Head coach Dieter Werfring: "Tapio is our first import for next season and I'm very happy with that signing. He will not not only breathe new life into the team as a player but also as personality."
 
Thomas Spinell, Dan Tudin und Hannes Treibenreif stay with Ritten
The roster of AHL and Italian champions becomes bigger, now Rittner Buam extended contracts of Thomas Spinell, Dan Tudin and Hannes Treibenreif. Especially the future of Spinell looked doubtful but the forward will enter his ninth season with the first team. He is a guarantor for success at Klobenstein, winning nine titles with the "Buam": Three championship titles (2014, 2016 and 2017), three cup victories (2010, 2014 and 2015), two Supercups (2009 and 2010) and the Alps Hockey League title lately. 
 
38-year-old Canadian-Italian dual citizen Dan Tudin adds another campaign with Rittner Buam. He plays at Klobenstein since the 2006-07 season, hitting the ice in 553 games and getting 590 points (264 goals and 326 assists). Tudin did his bit in all the clubs great victories, earning 47 points last season when the team won the Italian championship and Sky Alps Hockey League. In addition goalie Hannes Treibenreif, who became 20 years old two days ago, extended his contract, too. He's part of the youth national team and gained experience in Ritten's second team most of the time last season. In the future he should get more AHL appearances.