News release
5 October 2006
Yevgeny Lazarev Is One Of The New Jackals
Elmira, NY The Elmira Jackals announced today that they have acquired defenseman R.C. Lyke in a trade with the Bloomington PrairieThunder. They also announced the signings of Lyke, along with forwards Evgeny Lazarev and Jean-Francois Soucy to contracts for the upcoming 2006-2007 season.
The Jackals have signed three players to their training camp roster, forwards Evgeny Lazarev, Jean-Francois Soucy and defenseman R.C. Lyke. The Jackals acquired Lyke via a trade with the UHLs newest expansion club, the Bloomington PrairieThunder in exchange for future considerations.
Evgeny Lazarev (pronounced Yev-gen-ee LAZ-ah-rev) is one of two former Richmond Riverdogs player to sign with the Jackals this season. The Kharkov, Ukraine native brings a dangerous offensive threat and additional experience to a team already loaded with both. Lazarev had a very solid season in 2005-06, his first in the UHL, as he scored 64 points (26 goals, 38 assists) and had 104 PIMs in 76 games split between the Richmond and the Quad City Mallards. The 62, 235 lbs right wing was drafted in the 3rd Round (179th overall) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and he played parts of 5 seasons with the Hershey Bears, their AHL affiliate at the time. Over his 8-year professional career, the 26-year old has played in 385 games, with 212 points (88 goals, 124 assists) and 370 penalty minutes.
Evgeny is a great skilled played with lots of AHL experience, said Jackals Head Coach Kris Waltze. He is also one of the strongest players in the UHL at protecting the puck; it is rare to see him lose possession.
Jean-Francois Soucy is another promising talent with AHL experience. The 24-year old left wing, who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 8th round (252nd overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, began his professional career with the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the ECHL in 2003-04 and also spent 12 games with the AHLs Hershey Bears. The next season, Soucy played 55 games for the Springfield Falcons, Tampa Bays AHL affiliate. A formidable 63 forward, Soucy spent the 2005-06 season in the ECHL split between the Phoenix Road Runners and the San Diego Gulls, where he put up 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) and 225 PIMs in 68 games played. Ever a physical presence, Soucy has already amassed 206 games played, 61 points (25 goals, 36 assists) and 705 PIMs in his 3-year professional career.
R.C. Lyke, a native of Poughkeepsie, New York, played college hockey for NCAA Division I Mercyhurst College, before he began his professional career with the Jackals during the 2002-03 season. After his rookie season, Lyke split the next season between Adirondack and Rockford of the UHL and then moved to the CHL during the 2004-05 season where he spent a majority of the season with the Odessa Jackalopes. Last year the 28-year old returned to the UHL with the Richmond Riverdogs and posted a strong defensive year playing under now Jackals GM Robbie Nichols and Coach Kris Waltze. In 71 games for the Riverdogs Lyke had 13 points (1 goal, 12 assist) and 111 penalty minutes. For his professional career, he has 51 points (13 goals, 38 assists) and 395 penalty minutes in 251 games played.
R.C. is a very steady defenseman, said Waltze. He is smart with the puck in the defensive zone and makes a goaltenders jobs easier.
Elmira will hold a Blue vs. The Jackals open the season at the First Arena as they host the defending Colonial Cup Champion Kalamazoo Wings on Friday October 13th at 7:35 pm. They will also face off against the Wings on Sunday October 15th at 4:05 pm in Elmira.