So Tony Hand has finally completed the Phoenix line-up for next season and after me being rather nervous about the last few signings I am pleased to say I am very happy with our two final imports.
Juraj Faith joins Phoenix to complete the offensive for this season. The 35 year old has played most of his career in the Slovakian Extraliga and has been one of the best players in the league for years with an impressive 117 goals and 302 points. Faith started his career in his home town of Kosice where he returned on numerous occasions throughout his career, following spells in Germany and France he helped his home team win the championship in 2008. Faith is an all-round offensive player who can score goals, pass well and work both ends of the ice. He will complete the first line and play along side Tony Hand and Martin Cingel. Cingel and Faith are good friends which helped seal the deal and if it works I think this line could be better than last years first line (no offence to Kristofferson and Huppe!) I think that they are going to get better and better as the season goes on and fingers crossed will be unstoppable against the likes of Slough and Guildford. Faith is a great signing for Phoenix and I'm very excited to see what he can bring to the team to help defend the title.
Jorge El-Hage has been signed as the back up netminder to replace Summerfield for this season. El-Hage played for the Trafford Metros last season and has worked his way through the ranks playing regularly for the under 18s. I think that it is great to see young talent coming up into the senior team and it is brilliant for the club. El-Hage has a great opportunity to improve his skills and show us what he is made of. I'm looking forward to watching him grow as a netminder and step up to the mark if Fone gets injured. Is he as good as Summerfield? probably not but then again Summerfield wasn't great until he had to step up to the mark and I think El-Hage will do the same.
Last but not least, our final signing for the season is Jaroslav Spelda. Spelda has spent most of his career in the Czech Extraliga and at the age of 17 played for top side Pardubice. After a short spell in the lower division, Spelda was called up again to the Czech Extraliga and continued to play in the league until 2006 when he moved to Slovakia and joined our fellow Phoenix signing, Juraj Faith at HC Kosice. Spelda has played over 700 games in two of the top five European leagues and brings a wealth of experience to the team. Standing at 6ft and weighing 205lbs, Spelda is a big guy and I'm sure he isn't afraid of making the checks and hits when required. I think that Spelda is going to be a great addition to the blue line and an even better replacement for Gomeniuk. He is a top D-man and with his experience I think he has the potential to be the best D-man in the league (you heard it here first!) I also think that him and Harabin are the making of an unbreakable defence and I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do on that blue line.
So that's it, all signings complete, just have to wait until the first game of the season to see what they can do.
I'm so excited! :)
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