Centerman Smulders Signs IceMen Deal
August 8, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN.--- The beat goes on for the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League as the franchise continues its readiness for the upcoming 2011-12 CHL season and their arrival in the new Downtown Evansville Arena. Staying in tune has been the building of the second-year AA/CHL team roster which has now reached the total number of 16-players with today's most recent developments.
On this date, General Manager/Head Coach Rich Kromm has announced that the IceMen have come to terms with center BRAD SMULDERS on a one-year contract with the club effective with the 2011-12 campaign. Adhering to club policy, terms of the pact were not disclosed.
SMULDERS, 27, will be commencing his eighth pro season but it will be his initial pro campaign to be spent plying his trade in North America. The highly-skilled 5-11, 180lb center makes his pro premiere in this country having completed his first seven seasons as a top-notch All-Star caliber performer playing overseas in Holland where he averaged a prolific 1.24 points per game through 255-games. In fact, in each of his seven seasons he has averaged well over a point per game. For the record, in those 255-games, the native of Sarnia, Ontario has amassed 316-points on 136-goals, 180-assists.
In the 2010-11 campaign, in his third tour of duty with the Geleen Smoke Eaters, he finished third in overall team scoring with 41-points in 40-games on 13-goals, 28-assists with the latter output ranking as runner-up best on his club. One season earlier, in 2009-10 while with the Nijmegen Devils, he equaled his best single season output in goal production at 25 in just 42-games as his team's fifth top scoring mogul.
Smulders best season occurred in 2007-08 with the Amsterdam Tigers where he engineered 55-points in only 36-games including another 25-goals' year. That particular season, he topped his team in goal-scoring prowess, finishing #2 in team total points.
GM/Coach Kromm refers to his newest centerman's numbers abroad as a clear clue of his expectations for Smulders. "Brad is coming to us after an outstanding career at the pro level in Europe at Holland. There, he gained the reputation for producing good, solid numbers. His consistency in this area has been remarkable. We are looking for him to provide the same type of solid offense for us. His record of good offense has been demonstrated not only at the pro level but also in his junior 'A' years in the OPJHL."
Following his junior 'A' career, Smulders promptly proceeded to journey to Holland and his rookie pro season of 2004-05 with Geleen emerging prominently as his team's second leading scorer, registering 40-points in 31-games on 23-goals, 17-assists. His 23-snipes also ranked a lofty second best for the Smoke Eaters.
With today's latest player signing of center BRAD SMULDERS, the IceMen current player roster has swelled to 16 with eight players marked as returnees from last season's inaugural AA/CHL season.
The IceMen players signed: goaltender BRIAN GILLIS; defensemen MATT GENS, ADAM KNOPP, JORDAN LITTLE, STEVE MAKWAY, JAKE OBERMEYER, PHILIPPE PLANTE, NICK SCHNEIDER; left wings JOSH BEAULIEU, MARK CODY, MATT PIERCE; centers BRIAN BICEK, NICKLAS LINDBERG, TODD ROBINSON; right wing DUSTIN JOHNSON.
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Central Hockey League Stories from August 8, 2011
- Mavericks Head to Quad City for Exhibition Games - Kansas City Mavericks
- Mallards to Host Preseason Ice Breaker - Quad City Mallards
- Centerman Smulders Signs IceMen Deal - Evansville IceMen
- Corvallis Knights Playoff Tickets on Sale - Tulsa Oilers
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