ECHL Florida Everblades

Blades get three from Florida Panthers

Published on October 4, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - Florida Everblades president & general manager Craig Brush, along with head coach Gerry Fleming announced today that Florida Panthers have assigned three players to the Everblades from the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. Defensemen Martin Lojek (LOW-jeck), Martin Tuma (TOO-mah) and goaltender Phil Osaer (OH-say-er) will join Everblades when camp opens next week.

Lojek is coming off his third season at the junior ranks in the Ontario Hockey League. The 20-year-old native of the Czech Republic picked up 13 points (1g, 12a ) and added 58 penalty minutes in 58 games with the Brampton Battalion last season. Lojek, a 4th round draft pick by the Florida Panthers in 2003, totaled 47 points (5g, 42a) in 191 career OHL games, all with the Battalion.

Tuma (TOO-mah), also a native of the Czech Republic, made his professional debut last year when he skated in five games, picking up one assist, with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. Prior to turning pro, the 20-year-old spent two seasons in the OHL with the Sault-Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Last year with the Greyhounds, Tuma scored 10 goals and picked up 13 assists, while adding 107 penalty minutes. Overall in his two seasons with Sault-Ste. Marie, the 5th round draft pick by the Florida Panthers in 2003, notched 28 points (10g, 18a) in 118 games.

Osaer (OH-say-er) comes to the Everblades after spending last season in the ECHL with the Texas Wildcatters, where he posted a 10-27-3 record with a 3.10 goals against average and a .910 save percentage in 42 games. The 25-year-old net-minder also saw three games worth of action in the AHL last season with San Antonio where he compiled a 1-1-0 record. Osaer, a 7th round draft pick by the St. Louis Blues in 1999 spent all of the 2003-04 season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolfpack where he played in 21 games, putting together an 8-10-2 record with a 2.22 GAA. In 2002-03 the Livonia, Michigan native split the year between three teams, the Trenton Titans, the Louisiana IceGators (both of the ECHL) and the Worcester IceCats of the AHL. Osaer skated in a combined six games with the Titans and IceGators, going 2-3-2, and spent the majority of the campaign with Worcester compiling a record of 9-9-3, with a 2.89 GAA. Osaer made his professional debut in 2001-02 with the Peoria Rivermen of the ECHL, going 16-11-2 and posting a 2.43 GAA. Prior to turning pro, Osaer spent three seasons at the collegiate level with Ferris State University. While at Ferris State, Osaer appeared in 59 games going 24-22-6 with a 2.17 GAA.

"With all three of these players, we have added some very good talent," Brush said. "Lojek and Tuma are both bonafide NHL prospects will add some good depth to our roster. With Osaer we feel that we have a proven, number one ECHL goaltender."

It was also announced today by the Everblades that training camp for the 2005-06 season will open on Monday, October 10 at 10 a.m. at Germain Arena. The Everblades training camp runs all of next week with practices beginning at 10 a.m. each day.

The Everblades begin the 2005-06 season on Friday, October 21 vs. Texas at Germain Arena. Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com for more information on ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

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