Tagged: Czech Extraliga

 

nathan-walker

After attending training camp on an invite from parent club Washington Capitals, where he impressed, Hershey Bears‘ undrafted rookie left wing Nathan Walker(12) becomes the first Australian player to skate in an AHL game

It’s well documented that this is a guy that wants to debut for his country in the NHL.

At 5’11” 185 lbs. he’s not exactly the biggest power forward out there, but knows how to get into those open spaces for scoring chances and plays a hustle style.

In 35 games he’s potted 5 goals and 6 assists with a -1 rating and almost 2 shots on net per contest.

He’s most definitely had an interesting path to take him to Chocolatetown, first appearing in 4.5 years of junior level hockey in of all places the Czech Republic.

He also played two years of pro Czech Extraliga (another first) before joining USHL junior hockey Youngstown Phantoms for the last third of the regular season.

He was pretty much a point-per-game guy as you’d expect.

The only 20-year old forward also had a couple of super-young visits in the Australian pro AIHL.

By all means, the player originally born in the United Kingdom just might achieve his goal.

un-just-about everything except signed, 31-year old Slovakian right wing Peter Sivak(24) scored his first AHL goal in his first game over the weekend.

After 11 seasons of playing pro hockey in his native country, mostly in the Slovakian league but also a couple of years with HL Zlin of the Czech Extraliga, he makes the switch after a campaign where he put up his best pro numbers.

The 5’11” 189 lbs. forward was the first ever signing by the newly established ECHL franchise San Franciso Bulls over this past summer.

He’s been a sniper at this level of North American pro hockey with 33 goals and 23 assists, first on the team in scoring, and another career high points at 56. He may stay at this mark, because it’s doubtful that Worcester Sharks will release him, if he can stay hot. He seems to look right at home out there.

Peter Sivak

Wichita Thunder 6th year right wing Alex Bourret(22) was originally an Atlanta Thrashers‘ 1st round pick in the 2005 draft (#16 overall).

He started his pro career playing 168 AHL games with a few different teams, a couple of trades later.

By his fourth year, he seemed to burn out or something because he went off the pro map playing a couple of games in the LNAH, 16 in the Czech Elite League and even 16 in the Asian Hockey League but each of the last two seasons also kept a toe-hold in North American hockey with a couple of teams in the ECHL.

For 2011/2012 season, he signed with the Thunder of the Central Hockey League and tore it up with 57 points (20 goals, 37 assists) in 43 games and a mighty +20 plus/minus.

The 5’10” 205 lbs. 25-year old forward was called up for 6 games with Worcester Sharks this season and chipped in with 3 helpers. It was his first action in the A since 2009.

By all indications he should be playing in higher league. He helped Wichita to the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals but was injured and limited to 14 games (5 goals, 9 assists).

Former Carolina Hurricanes 3rd round pick (#69 overall) in 2004, defenseman Casey Borer(28) flies the coop after 4 years in the prospect system including 16 NHL games.

Last season was the first he failed to appear in any big league contests playing in 67 games with their AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers, so the writing had to be on the wall: fell off their depth chart.

For 2011/2012, he signs to play in the Czech Extraliga (Extra League) with HC Pardubice.