Forward Lukas Smital will spend at least a 4^th season with the Guildford Flames ice hockey club. The 6’1”, 210lb winger finished second among team scoring charts during last season’s Premier Cup winning campaign. Over 60 games he enjoyed an 82 point season with 32 goals and a team topping 50 assists. Since joining the side from Bracknell Bees in the summer of 2007, the former Czech junior international has iced 173 times for the Spectrum outfit and has 99 goals and 242 points. 

 

During his opening season in Surrey, Smital helped the Flames to the English Premier League title; the same trophy he hoisted a year earlier in Bracknell when he collected 109 points while leading the Bees to a double winning campaign as the league and playoff champions of 2006-2007. He arrived at the Berkshire outfit for the 2004-2005 season and pocketed his first English silver when the side picked up the British National League and Winter Cup titles before the year was out. In addition to the team rewards, his inaugural season on UK soil was marked by a selection to the BNL all star team, while the British writer’s association named him as the league’s ‘player of the year’. 

 

Smital’s early pro years were spent in North America where he debuted with the Johnstown Chiefs of the East Coast Hockey League in 1996-1997. After a 48 point opening campaign, his best statistical output came the next year when he led the Chiefs in goals and points, recording 39 goals and 26 assists. His success paid off with his first call up to the American Hockey League that same season when he iced 9 times with the Saint John Flames. Smital followed that up with 6 more seasons in the United States, all told playing in nearly 500 East Coast, West Coast and American Hockey League games while posting 199 goals and 399 points prior to arriving in Bracknell. 

 

Paul Dixon, Flames Head Coach, was pleased to see the key forward return to the line up:

 

“We have recently added some quickness to our line up with some younger players, but when we are speaking of speed on our roster, you need to include Lukas at the top of that list. He is an outstanding skater and uses that to be a very dominant player in terms of puck possession and offensive set up which has been a big part of his contribution to our success since his arrival. In addition to that, he plays in all special team situations and is a responsible defensive player. Lukas has proven himself to be a winner time and time again and we are pleased that he will be continuing to set his objectives on helping us reach our goals for the coming season.”

 

For further information contact Kirk Humphreys on 01483 452244 ex 3 or kirk@guildfordflames.com