Brunelle and Cherneski ink contracts with PrairieThunder
September 18, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Bloomington PrairieThunder Head Coach Derek Booth announced Monday that left wing Mathieu Brunelle and forward Phil Cherneski signed to play with his United Hockey League squad during its inaugural 2006-07 season. Brunelle was the seventh-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2002 NHL Draft, while Cherneski is a young player who just finished his collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin Eau Clair in 2005.
During the 2005-06 season, Brunelle split time between the East Coast Hockey League's Trenton Titans (37 GP), the American Hockey League's Philadelphia Phantoms (two GP) and the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors (33 GP). Brunelle notched a total of 52 points during the year, including 23 goals. Booth is happy to welcome the Warwick, PQ native and his offensive skills to the Bloomington team.
"Mathieu Brunelle is an excellent offensive player," said Booth. "He is a proven goal-scorer and I look forward to seeing him compete in this league. He has a track record for being a leader on the ice, and his goal-scoring punch will fit well in our offensive scheme."
Cherneski enjoyed a successful collegiate hockey career at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Clair, where he appeared in 101 games over four seasons. During those four seasons he also recorded 85 points, including 39 goals, with his career-high point-scoring season in 2003-04 when he recorded 30 points. During the 2005-06 season Cherneski played for the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League.
"Phil is a young addition to our roster," said Booth. "He is considered a first-year guy for us, but he did play for a year after college in the Central Hockey League. We're very excited to add him to the PrairieThunder roster, and I'm anxious to see how he will perform during the upcoming season."
Cherneski is a native of Thompson, Manitoba.
Brunelle Playing History At A Glance
Year Team League Games Played Points
2000-01 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 65 18
2001-02 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 72 107
2002-03 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 39 50
2002-03 Hull Olympiques QMJHL 31 36
2003-04 Trenton Titans ECHL 64 56
2003-04 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 7 1
2004-05 Trenton Titans ECHL 37 21
2004-05 Dayton Bombers ECHL 13 8
2004-05 Bakersfield Condors ECHL 18 17
2005-06 Trenton Titans ECHL 37 23
2005-06 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 2 2
2005-06 Bakersfield Condors ECHL 33 27
Cherneski Playing History At A Glance
Year Team League Games Played Points
2001-02 U. of Wisconsin Eau Clair NCAA 23 17
2002-03 U. of Wisconsin Eau Clair NCAA 25 14
2003-04 U. of Wisconsin Eau Clair NCAA 27 30
2004-05 U. of Wisconsin Eau Clair NCAA 26 24
2005-06 Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees CHL 54 8
International Hockey League 2 Stories from September 18, 2006
- Brunelle and Cherneski ink contracts with PrairieThunder - Bloomington PrairieThunder
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