Brad Lukowich Announces Fort Worth Brahmas Are His Team

NHL defenseman Brad Lukowich, a former Dallas Stars player who helped lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship this past June has become the first NHL player to make the jump and sign with a Central Hockey League team, the fortunate Fort Worth Brahmas.

Al Sims, Fort Worth’s head coach and Director of Hockey Operations is elated to welcome Lukowich to his team. "Clearly, this is extremely fortunate for my hockey club. Brad Lukowich is obviously one of the top defensemen in all of pro hockey. He has played consistently in the NHL for the last five seasons, and has proven that he is an outstanding hockey player. He’s a winner, and he’s a class act on and off the ice. To say he’ll make a major impact on our team would be an understatement. I can’t wait for training camp and to see him out on the ice in a Brahmas uniform."

"I had only one other CHL team that I considered, and that was Oklahoma City, because my godfather coaches there." Lukowich said. "Luckily, we’ll be playing a couple of exhibition games against them in the next few weeks. It should be fun," Lukowich stated, grinning.

The win-starved Brahmas had been hoping for opportunity to knock in the form of a solid defenseman, and the NHL lockout has provided a stellar chance for the team.

Lukowich maintains a second home in Dallas, and he was skating at the Stars practice facility in Frisco last week while Brahmas defenseman Adam Davis and forward Chad Woollard were skating at a Dallas Stars developmental camp.

After hearing from Tampa Bay that it wouldn’t be necessary for him to fly out and begin training with them, Lukowich mentioned casually to Davis’ brother, Brahmas’ center Aaron Davis that he wouldn’t mind playing for the Brahmas, since it appeared he would be hanging around the area for a while. Aaron Davis raced out to alert Sims of Lukowich’s suggestion, and a contract was quickly drawn up, with a clause that if the NHL resumes play this season, Lukowich will go back to the Lightning.

When asked if possible injury playing in the rough and tumble CHL was a worry, Lukowich stated, "I could leave this building and get knocked down by a car, anything is possible, but I am a hockey player, and I want to play. The CHL has a physical type of play that is just my style. I know I’ve been hired as a defenseman, but I’m hoping coach Sims won’t mind if I take a few offensive opportunities now and then."

As for his new teammates, Brahmas players Adam Davis and Chad Woollard couldn’t be happier. The chance for young players to work with, play with and learn from an experienced pro like Lukowich is an amazing chance.

Grinning like a cat that ate the cream, Adam Davis said “I’m looking forward to enjoying a lot of wins this season"

As to the possibility of more NHL players signing on with the Brahmas, Lukowich smiled and said, "I’ll be talking to a couple of guys about it. The Europeans are mostly staying back home for this lockout, but there are plenty of Canadian and American players living in this area. We’ll see what happens in the next few weeks."