The biggest player movement news of the past week may have been who didn't move: Rostislav Olesz will remain in Vitkovice. Some players will move teams, however, including a couple who will shift from one CHL club to another.
CHL News
As the summer wears on, teams continue to make signings and players continue to move. Some players, however, choose to remain in one place. One of those players is veteran winger Rostislav Olesz, who has signed a three-year contract extension with Vitkovice Ostrava.
“I'm happy and glad,” said Olesz, who has 365 NHL games under his belt, mostly with the Florida Panthers. “I had other offers, but I decided to stay at home. I live 15 minutes from the rink, and I'm in the town where I grew up. My wife has her life here, our little one's started pre-school so the last thing we wanted was to go somewhere abroad for six months.”
One team that was busy in the past week was Eisbaren Berlin, who did some shuffling in goal. Kevin Nastiuk, who played for the Polar Bears from 2010 to 2012, is returning back for the team after three seasons in Germany's second division, where he was a starting goalie.
"We have observed Kevin Nastiuk every now and again over the past few years,” said Stefan Ustorf, sports director of Eisbaren Berlin. “He has improved over a large number of games and its benefits have become apparent. Nasti was always there when they needed him.”
To make room for Nastiuk, Eisbaren shipped Mathias Niederberger back to his hometown team – Dusseldorfer EG, another CHL club.
“To wear the DEG jersey was and is, of course, always a dream,” said the 22-year-old Niederberger. “I'm going to do everything I can to meet the expectations and earn the trust of the coaches, players and fans. I look forward to many new teammates, friends and the fans in Dusseldorf.”
Said Dusseldorf head coach Christof Kreutzer: “I am pleased with this change very much. I know, of course, that Mathias is very good, and I've have followed his career closely and I'm fully convinced by him and his performance. We trust him to absolutely to take the next step and become the number-one goaltender here. With him, Bobby Goepfert and Felix Bick, we now have a strong goaltending trio. The fans can look forward to the new season.”
Another player moving from one CHL club to another is veteran right winger Brendan Brooks, who moves from ERC Ingolstadt to the Braehead Clan. The two teams are both in Group 15.
“It's always fun to go back and play your old team and I think it will be a great challenge,” Brooks said about the prospect of facing Ingolstadt in the CHL group stage. He added, “I've always wanted to play in the British league. It's always been something I've wanted to do and I used to play with Ryan Finnerty way, way back in the day, and he's the head coach there now.”
Additionally, two young players will try to earn spots on a pair of NHL clubs in Southern California – defenceman Erik Cernak of HC Kosice will try out for the Los Angeles Kings and forward Julius Nattien of JYP Jyvaskyla will take a shot at the Anaheim Ducks.
For a complete list of transfers involving CHL clubs in the past week, see below.
Date | Player | Pos. | From: | To: |
20 July | Kevin Nastiuk | G | ESC Dresden | Eisbaren Berlin |
Jamie Milam | D | Fife Flyers | HK Nitra | |
Aaron Brocklehurst | D | ERC Ingolstadt | Alba Volan Szekesfehervar | |
19 July | Artem Iossafov | F | Espoo Blues | IC Gentofte |
17 July | Johannes Salmonsson | F | Linkoping HC | Kolner Haie |
16 July | Mathias Niederberger | G | Eisbaren Berlin | Dusseldorfer EG |
Matt Foy | F | Eisbaren Berlin | ETC Crimmitschau | |
Alexander Korotkevich | F | Neman Grodno | Khimik-SKA Novopolotsk | |
15 July | Brendan Brooks | F | ERC Ingolstadt | Braehead Clan |
Julius Nattinen | F | JYP Jyvaskyla | Anaheim Ducks | |
Josh Green | F | Tappara Tampere | KooKoo Kouvola | |
Ryan Kavanagh | D | Braehead Clan | Lupi Val Pusteria | |
Eric Cernak | D | HC Kosice | Los Angeles Kings |