Twenty9
09-20-2004, 09:19 PM
September 20, 2004 - Fort Worth- NHL defenseman Brad Lukowich, a former Dallas Stars player who helped lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship this past June, has signed a contract to play the 2004-2005 CHL season with the Fort Worth Brahmas.
News of Lukowich’s signing was announced by Brahmas’ General Manager Mike Barack at an afternoon press conference today at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
Brahmas majority owner Stuart Fraser, who was involved in the process of signing Lukowich, is thrilled about today’s announcement.
"This is exciting news for the Brahmas and the Central Hockey League, said Fraser, "We believe this sends a message to our fans and the community that the Brahmas are committed to providing an entertaining and competitive hockey team here in the Metroplex."
Lukowich, a veteran of eight seasons of professional hockey, has 373 NHL regular season games to his credit. He was originally selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round (90th overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. The Dallas Stars then acquired his rights from the Islanders on June 1, 1996 in exchange for the Stars third round choice in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
After playing nearly two full seasons (1996-1998) with the Stars top affiliate, the Michigan K-Wings, Lukowich made his NHL debut for Dallas on March 4, 1998 versus the Montreal Canadians. After splitting time with Dallas and Michigan during the 1998-1999 season, and playing in eight playoff games in the spring of 1998 during the Stars run to the 1998 Stanley Cup, Lukowich played his first full season in the NHL with the Stars in 1999-2000. He would be a mainstay on the Stars blueline for the next two seasons until he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 22, 2002 with a seventh round draft choice in exchange for the Lightning’s second round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
The trade to the Lightning was a beneficial one for Lukowich, as he skated in 70 games for the Lightning in 2002-2003, scoring one goal and assisting on 14 others. Last year, Lukowich played in 79 regular season games for the Lightning, posting career highs in goals (5) and points (19) and tying his career best with 14 assists. He also demonstrated his defensive effectiveness, as he finished third on the Lightning roster with a +29 rating. In the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs, Lukowich dressed for 18 playoff games for Tampa Bay, assisting on 2 goals and picking up 6 penalty minutes during the Lightning’s captivating run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship.
Lukowich, 6’1”, 205, prepped for his pro career by playing junior hockey for parts of four seasons (1992-1996) with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). His best season with the Blazers came in 1995-1996 when he had 14 goals, 55 assists and 114 penalty minutes in 65 regular season games. Lukowich helped the Blazers to back-to-back Memorial Cup (the top team award in major junior hockey) titles in 1994 and 1995.
The signing of Lukowich by the Brahmas is extremely notable. The Cranbrook, British Columbia native is the first NHL player to sign a contract this season to play with an independent, non-affiliated North American based professional team. Lukowich found himself facing the prospect of a winter without hockey when the NHL voted to lockout the NHL players following the expiration of the league’s collective bargaining agreement on September 15. With no immediate resolution in sight for the NHL’s labor troubles, and with a permanent home in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Lukowich made the decision to play for the Brahmas this season.
Al Sims, Fort Worth’s Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations, is elated to welcome Lukowich to his team.
“Clearly, this is extremely fortunate for my hockey club. Brad Lukowich is obviously one of the top defenseman in all of pro hockey. He has played consistently in the NHL for the last five seasons, and has proven that he is an outstanding hockey player. He’s a winner, and he’s a class act on and off the ice. To say he will make a major impact on our team would be an understatement. I can’t wait for training camp to start and see him out on the ice in a Brahmas uniform,” Sims said.
Barack, who presented Lukowich with a number 37 Brahmas jersey at today’s press conference, calls the signing of Lukowich the biggest event in the Brahmas short seven-year history and one of the most noteworthy events in Fort Worth’s lengthy hockey history.
“This is a great day for the Fort Worth Brahmas. To have a player the caliber of Brad Lukowich playing for the Brahmas is tremendously exciting. It will be a real treat for our fans, sponsors, and loyal supporters to see a Stanley Cup winning defenseman on the ice for the Fort Worth Brahmas,” he said.
If a new collective bargaining agreement is reached between the NHL owners and players, and the NHL season resumes, Lukowich will leave the Brahmas immediately and rejoin the Lightning. However, until then, Lukowich is enthused to be playing in Fort Worth.
“I’m very excited to have the chance to play for the Brahmas. Unfortunately, the NHL lockout has left me without a place to play this season. The Brahmas are a quality organization, with a great coach, and supportive fans. Fort Worth is an awesome city. By playing for the Brahmas, I’ll be able to stay in shape and be ready to go if and when the NHL lockout comes to an end,” he said.
With 569 professional regular season games to his credit, Lukowich becomes the third veteran on the Brahmas roster for the 2004-2005 season. CHL league rules allow for each CHL team to have just four players on their active roster with more than 260 professional regular season games played. The signing of Lukowich now gives the Brahmas seventeen players under contract for the club’s quickly approaching 2004-2005 campaign. Lukowich and his new Brahmas teammates will open training camp on October 11, 2005.
News of Lukowich’s signing was announced by Brahmas’ General Manager Mike Barack at an afternoon press conference today at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
Brahmas majority owner Stuart Fraser, who was involved in the process of signing Lukowich, is thrilled about today’s announcement.
"This is exciting news for the Brahmas and the Central Hockey League, said Fraser, "We believe this sends a message to our fans and the community that the Brahmas are committed to providing an entertaining and competitive hockey team here in the Metroplex."
Lukowich, a veteran of eight seasons of professional hockey, has 373 NHL regular season games to his credit. He was originally selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round (90th overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. The Dallas Stars then acquired his rights from the Islanders on June 1, 1996 in exchange for the Stars third round choice in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
After playing nearly two full seasons (1996-1998) with the Stars top affiliate, the Michigan K-Wings, Lukowich made his NHL debut for Dallas on March 4, 1998 versus the Montreal Canadians. After splitting time with Dallas and Michigan during the 1998-1999 season, and playing in eight playoff games in the spring of 1998 during the Stars run to the 1998 Stanley Cup, Lukowich played his first full season in the NHL with the Stars in 1999-2000. He would be a mainstay on the Stars blueline for the next two seasons until he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 22, 2002 with a seventh round draft choice in exchange for the Lightning’s second round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
The trade to the Lightning was a beneficial one for Lukowich, as he skated in 70 games for the Lightning in 2002-2003, scoring one goal and assisting on 14 others. Last year, Lukowich played in 79 regular season games for the Lightning, posting career highs in goals (5) and points (19) and tying his career best with 14 assists. He also demonstrated his defensive effectiveness, as he finished third on the Lightning roster with a +29 rating. In the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs, Lukowich dressed for 18 playoff games for Tampa Bay, assisting on 2 goals and picking up 6 penalty minutes during the Lightning’s captivating run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship.
Lukowich, 6’1”, 205, prepped for his pro career by playing junior hockey for parts of four seasons (1992-1996) with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). His best season with the Blazers came in 1995-1996 when he had 14 goals, 55 assists and 114 penalty minutes in 65 regular season games. Lukowich helped the Blazers to back-to-back Memorial Cup (the top team award in major junior hockey) titles in 1994 and 1995.
The signing of Lukowich by the Brahmas is extremely notable. The Cranbrook, British Columbia native is the first NHL player to sign a contract this season to play with an independent, non-affiliated North American based professional team. Lukowich found himself facing the prospect of a winter without hockey when the NHL voted to lockout the NHL players following the expiration of the league’s collective bargaining agreement on September 15. With no immediate resolution in sight for the NHL’s labor troubles, and with a permanent home in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Lukowich made the decision to play for the Brahmas this season.
Al Sims, Fort Worth’s Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations, is elated to welcome Lukowich to his team.
“Clearly, this is extremely fortunate for my hockey club. Brad Lukowich is obviously one of the top defenseman in all of pro hockey. He has played consistently in the NHL for the last five seasons, and has proven that he is an outstanding hockey player. He’s a winner, and he’s a class act on and off the ice. To say he will make a major impact on our team would be an understatement. I can’t wait for training camp to start and see him out on the ice in a Brahmas uniform,” Sims said.
Barack, who presented Lukowich with a number 37 Brahmas jersey at today’s press conference, calls the signing of Lukowich the biggest event in the Brahmas short seven-year history and one of the most noteworthy events in Fort Worth’s lengthy hockey history.
“This is a great day for the Fort Worth Brahmas. To have a player the caliber of Brad Lukowich playing for the Brahmas is tremendously exciting. It will be a real treat for our fans, sponsors, and loyal supporters to see a Stanley Cup winning defenseman on the ice for the Fort Worth Brahmas,” he said.
If a new collective bargaining agreement is reached between the NHL owners and players, and the NHL season resumes, Lukowich will leave the Brahmas immediately and rejoin the Lightning. However, until then, Lukowich is enthused to be playing in Fort Worth.
“I’m very excited to have the chance to play for the Brahmas. Unfortunately, the NHL lockout has left me without a place to play this season. The Brahmas are a quality organization, with a great coach, and supportive fans. Fort Worth is an awesome city. By playing for the Brahmas, I’ll be able to stay in shape and be ready to go if and when the NHL lockout comes to an end,” he said.
With 569 professional regular season games to his credit, Lukowich becomes the third veteran on the Brahmas roster for the 2004-2005 season. CHL league rules allow for each CHL team to have just four players on their active roster with more than 260 professional regular season games played. The signing of Lukowich now gives the Brahmas seventeen players under contract for the club’s quickly approaching 2004-2005 campaign. Lukowich and his new Brahmas teammates will open training camp on October 11, 2005.