Czech forward Kamil Kreps puts pen to paper on a one year contract with HC SLOVAN Bratislava.
The 27 year old Czech forward, who began his hockey career in Litvinov in the Czech Republic comes to HC SLOVAN Bratislava with a wealth of experience of top level hockey from around the world. Kreps (born 18th November 1984 in Litoměřice, Czech Republic) is a natural centre, but can also play at right wing, and brings an extra dimension to HC SLOVAN’s forward lines. Kreps moved over to North America at an early age to play in the highly competitive Ontario Hockey League, one of the best junior leagues in the world, and he shone whilst playing for the Brampton Battalion. His good performances got him noticed by NHL scouts, and he was drafted in the 2nd round (38th overall) by the Florida Panthers. Kreps would go on to play 232 games for Florida Panthers between 2007 and 2010, scoring 19 goals and 42 assists in the process.
Kreps returned to Europe at the start of the 2010/2011 season, where he signed for Kärpät Oulun in the top Finnish league, the SM-Liiga. There he formed a great partnership with fellow Czechs Petr Tenkrát and Pavel Rosa, as the three finished as the team’s top three scorers. Kreps had 29 points in 55 games in his one season in Finland. Kreps, who has yet to play in the top division in his home country, was snapped up by KHL side Barys Astana for the 2012/2013 season, where he impressed in one of the toughest leagues in the world. For a second season in a row, Kreps finished with 29 points, but he added a further four in his sides’ seven playoff games in the closely fought series with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
Kreps stands at 188cm as well as weighing in at 88kg, he is a forward who impresses with his skating, whilst having excellent puck control and an eye for goal.
HC SLOVAN Bratislava welcomes Kreps, who is the second Czech player to join the team for the coming season, and the team believes that his extensive experience of the top leagues in world ice hockey will be key for HC SLOVAN’s first foray into the KHL. Kreps will likely make his debut in a HC SLOVAN jersey for today’s game in the European Trophy against HC Sparta Praha.
by Jon Rowson, www.velvethockey.blogspot.co.uk
| P | Tím | Z | B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | CSKA Moskva | 38 | 81 |
| 2. | Jokerit Helsinki | 38 | 68 |
| 3. | Lokomotiv Jaroslavľ | 40 | 77 |
| 4. | Torpedo Nižnij Novgorod | 39 | 67 |
| 5. | HC Soči | 39 | 65 |
| 6. | Dynamo Moskva | 39 | 65 |
| 7. | SKA Petrohrad | 38 | 62 |
| 8. | Dinamo Minsk | 38 | 56 |
| 9. | Medveščak Záhreb | 40 | 56 |
| 10. | HC SLOVAN Bratislava | 40 | 55 |
| 11. | Spartak Moskva | 39 | 50 |
| 12. | Viťaz Podolsk | 39 | 46 |
| 13. | Dinamo Riga | 37 | 46 |
| 14. | Severstaľ Čerepovec | 38 | 40 |
| # | Hráč | Z | B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Barker Cam | 36 | 27 |
| 2. | Kaspar Lukas | 38 | 24 |
| 3. | Ticar Rok | 37 | 19 |
| 4. | Jeglic Ziga | 40 | 18 |
| 5. | Bartovic Milan | 40 | 15 |
| 6. | Nagy Ladislav | 34 | 14 |
| 7. | Stastny Andrej | 31 | 13 |
| 8. | Surovy Tomas | 40 | 12 |
| 9. | Viedensky Marek | 40 | 12 |
| 10. | Nedorost Vaclav | 34 | 11 |
