'Blades ink pair to contracts
March 21, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, FL - Florida Everblades president and general manager Craig Brush, along with head coach Gerry Fleming announced today that forward Eric Przepiorka and defenseman Steve Czech have been signed to contracts. Both will be in uniform for Florida's game at Columbia tonight.
Przepiorka (pres-ah-PEE-or-kah), 24, joins the Everblades after completing the collegiate season with Dartmouth College. The Grosse Point, Michigan native notched a career high 32 points (9g, 23a) in 33 games with the Big Green this past season, helping lead Dartmouth to a share of the ECAC Championship.
During his four-year career at Dartmouth, Przepiorka compiled 102 points (39g, 63a) 130 career games. The 5-foot-9 forward picked up a career high 15 goals during the 2004-05 campaign while notching 31 points overall. Prior to skating at the collegiate ranks, Przepiorka spent one season at the junior level with Sioux City of the United States Hockey League where he scored 43 goals and added 29 assists in 61 games.
Czech, 23, signs with the Everblades after posting eight points (1g, 7a) and 79 penalty minutes in 40 games as the captain of the University of Minnesota-Duluth squad. During his four-year career with the Bulldogs, the Oakdale, Minnesota native twice tallied a career-high 13 points. Last season Czech notched three goals and 10 assists in 38 games, and in his freshman season, he also scored three goals and added 10 assists in 42 games. Overall in his collegiate career, the 6-foot-1 defenseman tallied 46 points (10g, 32a) and 219 PIM in 154 games.
Prior to joining UMD, Czech played two seasons (2000-02) at the junior level with Waterloo, Rochester and Topeka of the USHL. Czech's junior career began with him playing in seven games with Waterloo before finishing the season with 13 points in 44 games with Rochester. The following season Czech began the year with four points in 24 games with Rochester, then finished the season with 16 points in 36 games with Topeka.
In a separate move, the Everblades placed defenseman Grant McNeill on the 30-day injured reserve list. McNeill, 22, heads back to the IR after playing in just one game since missing over a month on the IR. The Vermillion, Alberta native suffered his most recent injury in Florida's 8-2 win at Augusta on March 18. Prior to that, McNeill missed 18 games after suffering an injury on February 3 vs. Idaho. The 3rd round draft pick by the Florida Panthers in 2001 has two points (1g, 1a) and 133 penalty minutes in 31 games with the Everblades this season, and has also skated in two games in the American Hockey League this season with Rochester.
The Everblades return to action tonight when they take on the Columbia Inferno at 7:30 p.m. from the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia, SC.
Everblades 2005-06 group tickets and individual game tickets are on sale now! Fans can purchase tickets at the Germain Arena box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling TicketMaster at (239) 334-3309, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information, contact the Everblades office at (239) 948-7825.
ECHL Stories from March 21, 2006
- Royals overcome early deficit to beat Wheeling 4-1 - Reading Royals
- Pepperell, Sirois sink Lynx - Augusta Lynx
- 'Blades win fourth straight - Florida Everblades
- 'Blades ink pair to contracts - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Royals Sign Forward Chris Greene - Reading Royals
- Steelheads McConvey named In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week - Idaho Steelheads
- Toledo's MacIntyre Named Rbk Hockey ECHL Goaltender Of The Week - ECHL
- MacIntyre Named Goaltender Of The Week - Toledo Walleye
- Pensacola Organization Fined - ECHL
- One goes up, one comes down to Titans - Trenton Devils
- Steelheads' McConvey Named In Glas Co ECHL Player Of The Week - ECHL
- Nailers to be well-protected on Guns-N-Hoses Night - Wheeling Nailers
- Rookie sensation McLean returns to Nailers lineup - Wheeling Nailers
- Nailers sign Canadian college star - Wheeling Nailers
- Vokoun Wins NHL Defensive Player Award - ECHL
- Salmon Kings Slap Roadrunners 5-0 - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Bakersfield rally sends Thunder to 3-2 shootout loss - Stockton Thunder
- Liebenow Lights the Lamp Late in 3-2 Shootout Win - Bakersfield Condors
- Victoria sparks seven game road streak with blanking of Phoenix - Victoria Salmon Kings
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.
