Spokane, WA -- Ondrej Roman has returned to Spokane and will play for the Chiefs for the remainder of the 2008-09 WHL season, the team announced on Wednesday morning. After playing the previous two years in Spokane, the Czech Republic native spent the first half of this season playing for Vitkovice HC in his home country. In 23 games, Roman scored three goals and nine points.
“Obviously, we are very excited to get Ondrej back,” Chiefs General Manager Tim Speltz said. “We are glad the first half of the season worked out for him in that he had the opportunity to represent his country at the World Junior Championships. Ondrej will be a better player for his experiences and now will focus on the Chiefs and taking the next steps to be an NHL player with the Dallas Stars.”
Through two seasons and 142 games in Spokane, Roman has scored 19 goals, 90 assists and 109 points, including career highs of 15 goals, 46 assists and 61 points last season. Roman led the Chiefs in scoring in the WHL playoffs with nine goals and 21 points in 21 games. The 19-year-old also finished the post-season as a +13. The Dallas Stars selected Roman in the fifth round after posting 48 points, including a team high 44 assists, in his rookie season of 2006-07.
Most recently, Roman finished second on his team in scoring with four goals and eight points in a sixth at the World Junior Hockey Championships for the Czech Republic.
The Chiefs are awaiting Roman’s release for him to be eligible to play and he will not be in the lineup for Wednesday night’s home game versus Chilliwack. Spokane hopes to have him available for Saturday night. |