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CHL Kansas City Mavericks

Mavericks Sign Former CHL MVP and NHL Draft Pick, Sirota Traded

August 24, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Kansas City Mavericks News Release


INDEPENDENCE, Missouri - The Missouri Mavericks of the Central Hockey League (CHL) announced Wednesday the team has signed two forwards in former CHL Most Valuable Player Sebastien Thinel and fourth-round draft pick Kris Hogg. The team has also announced they have traded the rights to Nick Sirota to the Arizona Sundogs in exchange for future considerations.

Thinel, 30 (3/24/81), led the entire CHL in scoring last season with a career-high 110 points (35-7110) in 66 games played. The St. Jerome, Quebec native has played all but one of his nine seasons with the Odessa Jackalopes and has led the team in scoring in each of his last five seasons with Odessa. The 6-foot-1, 212-pound forward has eclipsed 90 points in each of his last three seasons and has a total of 647 points ( 235-412647) in 502 games played in the CHL. He took a one-year hiatus from the CHL during the 2006-07 season to play in France and averaged over two points per game with 55 points (21-3455) in 26 games.

Thinel is a six-time CHL All-Star and two-time winner of the Joe Burton Award as the league's scoring champion. He was awarded the CHL's Most Valuable Player Award following the 2008-09 season when he led the league with 97 points and tied for the league lead with 38 goals. He has also been named to the All-CHL Team twice in the past three seasons (2008-09, 2010-11).

Fans will have their first chance to meet Thinel at the Mavericks' Fan Fest on September 17 at Independence Events Center.

"We stated coming out of year two that our top priority was to improve our offensive output and power play production," said Mavericks' Head Coach Scott Hillman. "We feel very confident that with marquee players such as Thinel and Ed McGrane, we are taking steps in the right direction. Sebastien is a quality player and a first-class individual who fits the Mavericks' mold and is excited to bring his family to Independence."

"This is a franchise player that every team in the CHL was heavily recruiting," said Mavericks' President and General Manager Brent Thiessen. "We are excited today for our fans, the organization and our players to add the kind of production that a Sebastien Thinel brings."

Sebastien Thinel CHL Awards

2010-11: Joe Burton Award (Scoring Champion), All-CHL Team

2008-09: CHL Most Valuable Player, Joe Burton Award, All-CHL Team

Six All-Star Game appearances

Hogg, 25 (6/17/86), is a fourth round draft pick (121st overall) of the Calgary Flames in the 2004 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft. The Sicamous, British Columbia native enters his rookie season after playing for Lakehead University for four seasons. In his collegiate career, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound left wing averaged over a point per contest with 106 points (50-56106) in 104 games played. Prior to playing at Lakehead, Hogg competed for five seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL), and was drafted by the Flames. He had a career year with the Lethbridge Hurricanes in his last season in the WHL when he had 69 points (39-3069) in 70 games played and 131 penalty minutes. In total, he played in 339 games and had 194 points (106-88194) and 495 penalty minutes.

"Kris Hogg is a very exciting rookie prospect who had incredible success in the WHL," said Hillman. "Being a fourth round pick, we have high expectations for Kris, but we know he's focused on climbing the pro hockey ladder and confident the Mavericks can give him a good start to his pro career."

Sirota, 27, was traded to the Arizona Sundogs in exchange for future considerations. He is entering his third full season as a pro in 2011-12 and scored 107 total points (45-62107) in 128 games.

"We wanted Nick to join us this season, however it became very apparent he didn't want to return to the Mavericks," said Thiessen. "We offered him a very fair contract and he did not want to accept it. We are sad to see him go, but we also want to move forward with players that want to be Mavericks. We appreciate what he has done and wish him the best in Arizona."

The Missouri Mavericks will begin their third season in the Central Hockey League in October, and the home opener is Saturday, November 5 against the Wichita Thunder. The Mavericks play their home games at the state-of-the-art Independence Events Center where parking is always free. Tickets for all regular season games go on sale on Saturday, September 17 at 10 a.m. Call (816) 252-7825 for more information or visit www.MissouriMavericks.com .

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