Bicek, Velebny Set for Jack's Debuts
August 24, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON, MI.--- Action around the organization has been gradually gaining momentum in anticipation of the 50th Anniversary Season of pro hockey on the Lakeshore. For the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League, it means moving forward at a more accelerated pace in player acquisitions expressly to complete their training camp roster for the inception of the 2009-10 IHL campaign.
More positive movement in this direction has been realized today as the Lumberjacks General Manager / Governor Tim Taylor has announced the contract signings of two newcomers to the Muskegon lineup. The latest to ink their respective pacts for the 2009-10 season are center BRIAN BICEK and defenseman LUBOS VELEBNY. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract deals were not disclosed.
BICEK (BYE-sek), 23, will be embarking on his third pro season overall and his second of the full-fledged variety. Muskegon's latest newcomer will touch down downtown in our town following an outstanding season in the CHL (Central Hockey League) with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees where he was a teammate of Muskegon's all-time premiere cannoneer Robin Bouchard through the first half of last season. In 57-games in Rio Grande, the 5-9, 175lb sparkplug pivot registered 37-points on 17-goals, 20-assists while adding 51-PIM. His 17-goals ranked as fourth most on the Killer Bees squad and his 37-points listed him fifth on the club.
GM Taylor expressed satisfaction with the signing of the 'Jacks newest centerman, extolling his virtues in the process. "Brian offers our club much versatility as he has the ability to play both center and on the wing. He is quite capable of contributing significantly on the offense and he is not afraid to get dirty."
In addition to being a teammate of Bouchard, Bicek also was a teammate of another one of the Lumberjacks in recently-signed forward in center Travis Banga on the same Rio Grande team. A four-year product of Western Michigan U. of the highly-regarded CCHA, the left-shooting center from Downers Grove, IL actually launched his pro career in 2007-08 in the ECHL with the Elmira Jackals coming directly off the Kalamazoo-based campus of WMU. In 7-games with Elmira, he was 7(1-1-2).
His best season with the WMU Broncos occurred in his junior season of 2006-07 when he engineered 26-points in 37-games on 15-goals, 11-assists with 28-PIM. He finished fourth in goals and fifth in total points on the club. His career totals at WMU were 145-games; 29-goals, 25-assists, 54-points with 126-PIM.
Prior to his CCHA collegiate career, Bicek achieved a brilliant season at the junior 'A' level with the Cleveland Barons of the NAHL. In the 2003-04 campaign, he ranked a close runner-up on the club in scoring with 71-points in 56-games on 26-goals, 45-assists with 91-PIM. His 26-goals also ranked as second best for the Barons.
VELEBNY (vih-LEBB-nee), 27, is setting sail on his 8th pro season with the vast majority of it spent in standout fashion overseas in the European theater. The native of Zvolen, Slovakia is coming off of two superlative seasons playing in Germany. In 2008-09, the strapping 6-2, 210lb left-hand shooting rearguard collected 21-points in 43-games on 5-goals, 16-assists while topping his Dresden Ice Lions team in PIM with 149. It marked the second consecutive year that he had led his German squad in point-scoring among defensemen.
In the 2007-08 season while performing for Kaufbeuren ESV squadron in the German League, he was utterly brilliant on the backline, amassing 54-points in 53-games on 30-goals, 24-assists. In each season as well, he led his team as its best plus player.
GM Taylor is enthused to have the Slovakian veteran defenseman in the Lumberjacks livery. "Lubos is a big, strong defenseman with plenty of upside. He also has much versatility as he can be utilized at the forward position when necessary. What we like the most about him, is that he comes to battle every night and is a true warrior."
Prior to his star-studded two seasons in Germany, Velebny saw action in his homeland of Slovakia where he plied his craft with his hometown Zvolek team through four full seasons from 2003 to 2007.
He is not a stranger to this level of pro hockey nor to the Muskegon organization as well. In the 2002-03 season, the 'Jacks newest defenseman asserted his presence on the blue line for both the Quad City Mallards 39(0-2-2) with 40-PIM and later the Kalamazoo Wings 8(2-1-3) 10-PIM in the UHL.
Velebny's pro career was actually broached when the Toronto Maple Leafs made him their seventh round choice in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft during an outstanding major junior 'A' career in the OHL with the London Knights 29(3-9-12) 50-PIM and the Belleville Bulls 24(6-18-24) 31-PIM.
He also enjoyed an exceptional single season in 2000-01 in the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks 45(11-25-36) 179-PIM.
Today's signings of center BRIAN BICEK and defenseman LUBOS VELEBNY, brings to 12 the total number if players presently under Muskegon contract for the 50th Anniversary Season. Previously, the Lumberjacks announced the signings of goaltender SEBASTIEN CENTOMO; defensemen MATT GENS, JASON LAWMASTER; centers TRAVIS BANGA, BILLY COLLINS, TODD ROBINSON; left wings ROBIN BIG SNAKE, JOHN DIPACE; right wings ROBIN BOUCHARD, KEVIN DEMERS.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from August 24, 2009
- Bicek, Velebny Set for Jack's Debuts - Muskegon Lumberjacks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
