Olympic Rosters Have UHL Connections
December 23, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2) News Release
LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO--- Several hockey players selected to compete for their countries in the 2006 Winter Olympics have spent time in the United Hockey League (UHL). Rockford IceHogs defenseman Bob Nardella has been selected to play for Italy during the Winter Games which begin in February in Turin, Italy. He has played for Team Italy in three World Championships and in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Nardella has played 18 games for Rockford this season and has collected 16 points (1g, 15a) and a plus-3 rating. He also played 44 games (7g, 38a) for the IceHogs during the 2003-04 season and two games (2g, 1a) with the Quad City Mallards during the 2002-03 season.
Former Elmira Jackals defenseman George Pujacs has been named to the Latvia roster. Pujacs registered 28 points (7g, 21a) in 71 games for the Jackals during the 2004-05 season.
Herberts Vasiljevs was also selected to play for his home country of Latvia. He began his professional career with the Port Huron Border Cats during the 1996-97 season. The center tallied five points (3g, 2a) in five games for the Border Cats.
Rodrigo Lavinsh is also on the Latvia team. The defenseman played 16 games for the Muskegon Fury in the 1996-97 season and scored eight points (4g, 4a).
Aigars Cipruss is the second member of the 1996-97 Muskegon Fury roster selected to play for Latvia. In 23 games for the Fury in 1996-97, the center amassed 32 points (13g, 19a).
Maris Ziedins is the fifth player on the Latvia roster that has UHL experience. The forward began his professional career in the UHL, playing two seasons with the Rockford IceHogs. In 77 total games during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons, he collected 36 points (14g, 22a).
New York Islanders (NHL) left wing Miroslav Satan was selected to play for his native county of Slovakia. He began his professional career in the 1994-95 season, playing one game for the Detroit Falcons and dishing out two assists.
Defensemen Chris Chelios and Derian Hatcher were selected to play for Team USA. Both spent part of the 2004-05 season with the Motor City Mechanics. Chelios notched 24 points (5g, 19a) and a plus-13 rating in 23 games for the Mechanics. Hatcher tallied 17 points (5g, 12a) and a plus-9 rating in 24 games.
Konstatin Shafranov is on the roster for Kazakhstan. The winger played four games for the Detroit Falcons in the 1993-94 season, scoring five points (3g, 2a). He also spent part of the 1999-2000 season with the Fort Wayne Komets and tallied 30 points (15g, 15a) in 20 games.
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