SLOUGH, UK – Slough Jets and Great Britain Under 20s coach Peter Russell has completed a blockbuster initial line of 4 imports as the Playoff Champions make for an all-out assault on the EPL league title. Returning to Slough Jets after two seasons away with Romford Raiders and Swindon Wildcats, Jan Kraijeck re-joins the EPL team he made his name with. The 38 year old, 6ft 4in blueliner has consistently been rated amongst the best to ice at the back in the EPL, now going into his 4th season at EPL level. Having to bear a large weight of ice time on a top heavy Swindon Wildcats side, the Prostejov, Czech Republic native achieved 42 points in 48 games whilst taking 142 minutes in the penalty box. Previously Kraijeck put up 45 points in 39 games on his last spell with the Jets when he was regarded as the best defenceman in the league, and his spell with Romford Raiders saw a 48 point haul in 35 games. Experienced Kraijeck is likely to be heavily involved in coaching the younger players at the Jets and is a direct replacement for Jan Melichar who goes the other way joining M4 rivals Swindon Wildcats. Kraijeck is no stranger to success, having spent three seasons in the BNL with Edinburgh Capitals before Elite League spells with Nottingham Panthers and Newcastle Vipers being named to the Elite League All Star team on two occasions. Kraijeck also had a successful career in Czech Republic icing in the Extraliga for HC Slavia Prague. Whilst team owner and investment banker, Zoran Kozic, will always be available for injury cover as a 5th import following a career that has seen a point a game stops in Slough alongside an Elite League spell with London Racers and international caps with Yugoslavia as well as an NCAA championship with the Ivy League Yale University. Taking Kozic’s place on the forward lines on a more permanent basis will be Lithuanian Darius Pliskauskas, who joins from Romford Raiders. Pliskauskas who has appeared numerous times for the Lithuania national team, joined the Raiders half way through the season after an injury forced him out of the Elite League Edinburgh Capitals side, and notched 40 points in 26 games for the Rom Valley Way based side after 9 points in 17 games on a resurgent Capitals side. A previous season with the Capitals saw 17 points in 22 games in Edinburgh, but Pliskauskas has spent most of his career in the Belarussian leagues where he is proven goal scorer most recently with Metalurgs Liepuja where across the Belarussian and Latvian leagues Pliskaukas scored more than a point a game. The Elekrenai native also scored 5 points in 5 games in this years Division 1 World Championships for Lithuania. Completing the new signings is sure to be standout player, Doug Sheppard, the Georgetown, Ontario native returns to the region of the country he spent three years including one as Head Coach with Basingstoke Bison. The 33 year old left wing has ties to the area and the chance to come “home” to the West of England proved a good lure. A graduate of Providence College where he played with current NHL players include Fernando Pasani of the Edmonton Oilers, Sheppard has spent 6 seasons in the Elite League winning both the League and Playoffs with the Sheffield Steelers as player-assistant coach, each time notching a point a game. An all round player who can perform at both ends of the ice, Sheppard has also proved a popular player whereever he has performed including seasons in the ECHL, UHL and Italy before joining Basingstoke. Sheppard will be welcomed back to his old club, who now play in the English Premier League, but is sure to be the biggest threat his old club – now led by Steve Moria, find themselves with this coming season. The final import on the Jets is consistent EPL performer Blaz Emersic. The Slovenian international polled 105 points last season for his biggest ever career total, and Emersic rejoins the club for his 5th season in the Red, White and Blue. The former Olimpija Ljublana player who has also played extensively in North America is likely to make an impact once again this coming season, and the ability the player has to play at both ends of the ice will once again be invaluable for both the Jets and the former Nottingham Panthers forward. However, its not all good news for the Jets as young prospect Cieran Long has joined local rivals Basingstoke Bison, after a good 40 point season for the Jets. Meanwhile, Ryan Watt has joined Jan Melichar in signing for the Swindon Wildcats. Berkshire rivals Bracknell Bees have picked up Samuel Waller leaving Russell with some work to do to replace his young guns. Contact the author phil.andrews@prohockeynews.com
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