News release
19 September 2006
From Left To Right: Jan Skvarka, Dale Lupul, Milan Maslonka & Head Coach Kris Waltze
Elmira, NY The Elmira Jackals announced today that they have signed forward Jan Skvarka and defensemen Dale Lupul and Milan Maslonka to contracts for the upcoming season. These latest signings bring the Jackals total to 27 players signed by the Jackals for the 2006-2007 Season.
Dale Lupul comes to the Jackals with a very bright future. The 26-year old from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia put up very solid numbers in his first full year as a pro in 2005-06. Lupul had 29 points (7 goals, 22 assists) and 76 penalty minutes in 59 games played for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the CHL. His season was strong enough to be named to the CHL All-Star Game, playing for the Northern Conference All Star Team and he was named to the 2005-06 Central Hockey League All-Rookie Team. Lupul played 4-years of college hockey for the University of Wisconsin Superior, averaging almost 25 points per season. He is reunited with Chris Shaw, a former teammate in Bossier-Shreveport last season. The two defensemen also played together in junior hockey in 2000-01 for the Burnaby Bulldogs of the BCHL. Lupul even better numbers in the playoffs last year, scoring 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in 15 games as the Mudbugs went all the way to the CHL Finals before losing to Brent Cullatons Laredo Bucks. A rising talent, Lupul was recently in the New York Islanders preseason camp.
Another rookie added to the mix is Slovakian forward Jan Skvarka (pronounced Ska-var-ka). The 63, 225 lbs had 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) and was +28 in 46 games last year for Banska Bystrica U20, a team in the Slovakian junior league. During the 2004-05 season, Skvarka was even better, 35 points and +36 in 26 games played. The 20-year old rookie came to Elmira in the Future Stars Camp that was held at First Arena in late August.
Milan Maslonka (pronounced Mahs-LON-ka) is another highly touted prospect from the Slovakian Junior system. At 66, 245 lbs, he brings a significant physical presence to the blue line. During the 2005-06 season, Maslonka had 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists), 229 penalty minutes and was +22 in 39 games played for HKM Zvolen in the Slovakian Under-20 League. At just 20-years of age, Maslonka was another participant of the Future Stars Camp, which had an exhibition game on Friday September 1st at First Arena.