Outlaws Represented at World Juniors for Second Year in a Row
November 19, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release
Traveling across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving behind your family and friends, and entering a new world, new culture, and new lifestyle, all in pursuit of a dream; that's the life for some junior hockey players. For North Iowa Outlaws' Forward Krystian Dziubinski, that is the exact reason he came over to the US, to play Junior Hockey and hopefully earn a college scholarship. A few weeks ago, the 6'0, 180 pound forward from Nowy Targ, Poland got a call from his country, looking for his services in international play.
"I already played for the U-18 Poland National Team in 2006, but last season couldn't make it," Dziubinski said. "Since they already knew me, I got invited to camp in the summer where I made the team."
For the second straight season, a member of the North Iowa Outlaws will play in the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Championships. Last season, defensemen Chris Giebe played for Team Germany and even scored a goal as the German's upset Team USA in the opening game. This year is Dziubinski's chance as he will depart the Outlaws following this weekend to join his Team Poland teammates for the tournament.
"I know a lot fo the guys on the team from two years ago," Dziubinski added. "Hockey's not big in Poland so you know a lot of the players that are good. I'm proud to play for the National Team, it's always an honor to wear your country's colors."
Last season, Giebe was the only North American Hockey League player, besides a representative of the Team USA's Developmental Program, to be selected to play in the World Junior Championships, however Dziubinski will join fellow countryman Dariusz Gruszka (Topeka Roadrunners) on Team Poland and Klemen Sodrznik, (Springfield Jr. Blues) who will play for Slovenia. For the second season in a row Head Coach Dave Boitz says that having a member of the Outlaws compete will represent the league and the team in a positive way.
"We're honored and proud as an organization to have him play and represent our team in this event," Coach Boitz added. "I think he will play really well, he is versatile and can play in a big rink and on the small ice surface, I'm sure he'll do well."
Dziubinski will miss seven games for the tournament, a stretch which the Outlaws face tough teams in St. Louis, and Southern Minnesota. During the 2007-08 season, Dziubinski has 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points.
"It will be tough to miss a player like Krystian for some time," Boitz said. "It's a great opportunity for him and a reason why we are here, to promote player. We have plenty of talented players who will get a chance to step-up in his absence, so we should be fine."
Team Poland will participate in Pool B, not facing any of the "Hockey Powerhouse" from the US, Russia, Sweden and Canada. The winner of Pool B moves up to Pool A, where Giebe and Team Germany participated last season, and Dziubinski says Poland has a chance to take the top honors at the Tournament. Sodrnik's Team Slovenia will play in the other division, Poland face-off against Austria, Germany, Lithuania, Norway and the Ukraine. The Tournament runs from December 9th - Dec 15th.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2007
- Express gets on track with pair of wins - NAHL
- Jets Name Player of the Week - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Jets Acquire Tim Niedzielak from Springfield - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Outlaws Represented at World Juniors for Second Year in a Row - North Iowa Outlaws
- Jets Coach Wired for Sound on Friday Night - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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