Evanville Re-Sign Brian Bicek, Also Signs Philippe Plane

[chilly666]

EVANSVILLE, IN.--- Excitement continues to grow and abound as Evansville and the Tri-State look forward with anxious anticipation to the opening of the all-new, brand-new state-of-the-art Downtown Evansville Arena in time for the upcoming 2011-12 season. For the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League, the task at immediate hand is the continued construction of their team player roster as they seek a more contending status for the approaching campaign.

On this date, the IceMen General Manager / Head Coach Rich Kromm has announced that 2010-11 Team MVP BRIAN BICEK has assented to terms and affixed his signature on a new one year contract with Evansville for the 2011-12 season. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract deal were not disclosed.

BICEK (BYE-seck), 25, is set to embark on his fourth pro season overall and his second full campaign clad in the colors of Evansville pro hockey. The diminutive, dynamic, bedazzling center returns to the IceMen following his best-ever season in the professional ranks in his initial season with the IceMen last season.

Affectionately referred to as the "Pocket Rocket," the 5-9, 175lb swift-skating centerman topped the team in several major offensive key categories for the AA/CHL fledgling franchise in 2010-11 including total goals with 27; SHG with 5 and SOG with 222. "Ice-Bice-Baby" left an indelible impression on the CHL as well being named a lofty #2 in the league for "Fastest Skater" in the annual CHL "Best of the Best" Poll. His 5-SHG also ranked circuit second, comprising one-third of his team's total of 15-shorthanded strikes. Somewhat overshadowed amidst his manifold of achievements and despite his rather compact stature, the American-bred from the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove, IL has been a veritable "Ironman," especially the past two seasons, not missing a single game in totaling 142-consecutive outings. Last season, in 66-games, he was also Evansville's second leading scoring virtuoso, collecting 61-points on those 27-goals, 34-assists. Bicek's total season output included 5-PPG, 18-PP/Points, 4-FG and 3-GWG with one of those produced in a thrilling OT triumph over archrival Fort Wayne.

In the CHL's annual All-Star Game in Rapid City, SD last January, Bicek had lightning literally and figuratively coming out of his high-tech, high-octane, fuel-injected skates cannonading the natural 3-goal "hat trick" while attaining a brilliant +4 rating.

The 2011-12 campaign will mark the third in succession in which the former Western Michigan U. standout has plied his talents under the auspices of GM/Coach Kromm and "The Kromminator" is looking forward to the Bicek "trifecta" season. "We are certainly thrilled to bring Brian back to the IceMen. He has quickly emerged as a true fan favorite through his exciting style of play. He is an explosive performer who is a fun player to watch. He gives our team great energy; he is a stellar penalty-killer and creates a lot of offense with his sheer speed. In this upcoming season, we are expecting even more production from him and fully expect that he will be one of our top, key players paramount to our overall team success."

The type of player who brings the fans right out of their seats, "Bice," last season also was foremost on the IceMen squad in fashioning three 2-goal games as well as a team-best equaling 7-game point streak in which he assembled 13-points on 6-goals, 7-assists.

The latest IceMen signee could not mask his enthusiasm about his second coming to the IceMen. "I am very excited to be back in Evansville with the IceMen. One of the main reasons we came back was due to the excellent team that the organization is putting together for the new season. Winning is the biggest factor for me; we want to bring a championship to Evansville. This is a great community which has been so very supportive of our team. I want to be a part of all of this terrific hockey happening here in Evansville."

Bicek originally arrived on the Evansville pro hockey scene as a member of the 2009-10 IHL Huber Trophy Championship Muskegon Lumberjacks club. In that latter season, he emerged as a prominent, pre-eminent sparkplug, finishing in the top 20 in the league-wide scoring derby, amassing 55-points in playing all 76-games on 22-goals, 33-assists, 110-PIM and a superb +13 rating. His 6-GWG ranked as fourth most in the IHL as he captured the team's annual "Mr. Hustle Award." Highlighting his scoring resume was his flair for the electrifying as he delivered the two fastest goals (:34) and three fastest goals (2:37) in a single game by an individual player for the Lumberjacks.

Evansville's jet-streaming #10 actually launched his pro career in the CHL in the 2008-09 season with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees where in 57-games, he engineered 37-points on 17-goals, 20-assists. Prior to his collegiate career, he played four years in the highly-touted CCHA collegiate conference at Western Michigan U., in Kalamazoo, MI coming from the NAHL and the Cleveland Barons where he was 56(26-45-71). The IceMen now have 8-players signed for the new season, including defensemen Matt Gens, Jordan Little, Steve Makway, Jake Obermeyer; left wings Mark Cody and Matt Pierce; center Todd Robinson.

[chilly666]

EVANSVILLE, IN.--- As the Evansville IceMen continue the productive paces of developing their player roster for the upcoming 2011-12 Central Hockey League in their new home of the exciting new Down-town Evansville Arena, the team's defense remains the strong object of their attention.

In that mode, on this date, the IceMen General Manager / Head Coach Rich Kromm has announced that veteran defenseman PHILIPPE PLANTE has agreed to contract terms and signed the dotted line on a new one-year contract with the Evansville club. Adhering to club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

PLANTE (PLONTE), 32, will be commencing his 13th pro season and his fifth in the CHL after starring for the past three campaigns in Odessa with the Jackalopes. The 6-0, 200lb left-hand shooting adept and adroit artisan arrives on the Evansville pro hockey scene for the first time armed with an arsenal of outstanding accomplishments and achievements that will be paramount to the ultimate success of the IceMen club as the latter seeks to attain a much better and stronger contending status in the franchise second season operating in the AA/CHL.

A solid, experienced veteran presence on the blue line, the Greenfield, PQ product emerged prominently as his club's second top scoring defenseman, registering 31-points in 63-games on 6-goals, 25-assists with 61-PIM. Perpetually providing offense from his left defense position, he topped all Odessa defensemen in power play proficiency, delivering 16-PP/points on 5-PPG and 11-PPA. The IceMen's newest blue line bulwark saved his best for last in last spring's CHL playoffs, recording 6-points and stellar +4 rating in 9-games. His 4-goals were foremost among the Jackalopes' defense corps. Plante's best season in central Texas occurred one year previously in 2009-10 when he engineered 45-points in 63-outings on 15-goals, 30-assists while adding 60-PIM.

GM/Coach Kromm is delighted to add another defenseman, the IceMen's fifth, in the person of Plante. "The signing of Phil further solidifies our strong backline. He brings us a lot of experience as he possesses a well-rounded game both offensively and defensively. Phil is outstanding on the power play and brings a much-valued winning tradition to our hockey club. He is a solid veteran guy, outstanding citizen and will be a real asset to our Evansville community."

Evansville's latest signee for the defense has been a constant, exemplary and extraordinary talent at every level of the minor pro game, having seen action for five years in the AHL, namely with the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Hamilton Bulldogs. He was under contract to the NHL Montreal Canadiens with the latter club. For three years, his address was listed in the IHL and for three more seasons he called Muskegon his hockey home.

It was in Muskegon where he enjoyed some of his greatest grandeur and magical moments. In 2001-02, he helped spark the Fury to their second of four League Championships over a four-year span and in 2006-07, he led the same team to the league division crown while achieving his best individual prolific performance. In that season, he amassed an astronomical 67-points in 75-games on 18-goals, 49-assists and brilliant +38 rating. Plante not only topped his title timber team in each key category among defensemen but he also finished #3 in league wide defensemen scoring and #2 for best premium, positive plus rating.

Plante becomes the third member of the former CHL Odessa team to ink a pact with the IceMen for 2010-11. Previously, the IceMen came to terms with defensemen Matt Gens and center Todd Robinson.

For his entire pro career, Plante's numbers read: 783-games; 101-goals; 290-assists; 391-points; 617-PIM.

Today's signing of Phillipe Plante brings to 9 the total number of players presently signed for the new season. The IceMen have also signed defensemen MATT GENS, JORDAN LITTLE; STEVE MAKWAY; JAKE OBERMEYER; left wings MARK CODY, MATT PIERCE; centers BRIAN BICEK, TODD ROBINSON.