PrairieThunder Signs Four
August 27, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Veteran forward Jan Jas is returning to the Bloomington PrairieThunder for the 2009-10 International Hockey League season, head coach Jarrod Skalde announced Thursday.
Skalde also announced that goaltender Andrew Martin, who has five years of professional experience in the Central Hockey League, along with rookies Trevor Geiger and Joe Long have come to terms with the team.
The 31-year-old Jas came to the PrairieThunder midway through last season in a trade with Flint and made an immediate impact. He scored 12 points in his first 11 games, including a stretch where he scored at least one point in six straight games.
"We are excited to have Jan back with us," said Skalde, whose team opens the season Oct. 17 at Muskegon. "He did a great job for us coming in mid-season and provided a spark offensively.
"Jan can play either center or wing and is a big asset on specialty teams. With some of the additions we have made this summer, I'm looking forward to Jan having a big season."
Jas, who will be playing in his 12th season at the professional level, has scored 379 points on 155 goals and 224 assists in 482 games. The 6-foot, 190-pound Jas scored 42 points on 17 goals and 25 assists in 46 games with the PrairieThunder.
The Presov, Slovakia native began his pro career with the Miami Matadors of the ECHL in 1998. He spent most of his career in the CHL with stops at Jacksonville, Indianapolis, San Angelo and Fort Worth. He also has played in the WPHL, ACHL, Austria and Italy.
Jas, who shoots left-handed, began last season with Kalamazoo before moving to Flint and then to Bloomington. It turned out to be his most productive offensive season in his career with 62 points on 22 goals and 40 assists in 72 games.
He is one of four veterans (players with 300 or more games played) on the team. The others are Robin Gomez, Ryan Finnerty and Matt Frick.
The 27-year-old Martin, who was born in Camberly, England, began his pro career with Bakersfield of the ECHL in 2004-05. He also played at Shreveport, Fort Worth, Wichita, New Mexico and Laredo in the CHL.
Martin, who has a 90 percent save percentage and a 45-49-7 career record in 121 games, split time between New Mexico and Laredo last season and compiled a 16-17-1 record. He has allowed an average of 3.67 goals per game in his career.
"Andrew is a player who is ready to take that next step and be a No. 1 goaltender," said Skalde. "With (Paulo) Colaiacovo and (Ryan) Ludzik signed, this will create a real solid battle in net.
"I felt going into this off-season we needed to have two solid goalies that provide us with an opportunity to win every night. This is a very important training camp for us and we want to be sure we have two guys who are ready to compete from day one."
Geiger and Long are both trying to make their first pro team. The 5-9, 180-pound Geiger played in college at College of St. Scholastica, while the 5-10, 180-pound Long played in college at Hamline College.
Long, a defenseman who hails from Elk River, Minn., had 52 goals and 51 assists for 103 points in 102 games in college. The 24-year-old Geiger, a forward from Salmon Arm, B.C., had 85 points on 38 goals and 47 assists in 111 games.
The signings bring the PrairieThunder preseason to 22. Training camp begins Oct. 4 and tickets to PrairieThunder games are available by calling 309-585-0507.
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