SHEFFIELD, UK – EPL side Sheffield Scimitars have shown their commitment to developing the best in Sheffield’s youth talent, promoting Dimitri Zimozdra to the senior side where he will share netminding duties with Ben Bowns and an as yet un named third goaltender.
The IceSheffield based side have an affiliation to the Sheffield Spartans ENL side as well as the Sheffield Ice Hockey Academy where Zimozdra spent a number of his younger years.
Zimozdra is likely to get limited opportunities with Ben Bowns sealing the starting spot at the Scimitars last season, however the commitment to youth will see the 21 year old given his chance if Bowns’ form does dip during the season.
Putting up a Save Percentage of .927 last season with the ENL Sheffield Spartans, following a .951 save percentage the year before this will be Zimozdra’s second season at EPL level having made some appearences as an 18 year old for tthe Scimitars.
Despite being born in Moscow, Russia and he started training in some of the top junior sides in Russia, because he trained for at least two years at Under 18 level or below Zimozdra will not take up one of the four import slots allowed in the EPL.
Still reeling from the loss of 18 year old top scorer Matt Haywood to the Elite League Braehead Clan, the Scimitars have moved to sceure their first import already in the form of Peter Vaisanen. The Stouffville, Ontario native is of Finnish decent and holds a Finland passport.
Vaisanen played NCAA hockey for SUNY-Potsdam and Neumann University before joining ENL Invicta Dynamos last season posting 50 goals in a 100 point season for the Gillingham, Kent based side. Vaisanen was a key part of the Dynamos’ league championship season, bolstered by the arrival of fellow import Nolan Boike.
Contact the writer: phil.andrews@prohockeynews.com
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