Raiders reveal Kostelanksy signing
London Raiders will be welcoming new import Jakub Kostelanksy to their bench this weekend (pic: John Scott) - Credit: Archant
Identity of new import forward finally known
London Raiders have revealed Jakub Kostelansky as their new import for the rest of the National League season.
The Lee Valley-based club have been playing with just one overseas player in Vaclav Drabek for the past two months, since Jakub Klima left with Danny Marshall, AJ Smith, Perry Richardson and Mike Brabon.
But they are hoping Kostelanksy, 21, can help fire them into the play-off places over the next two months.
A statement on the club’s facebook page said: “The London Raiders are pleased to end the interminable suspense and announce that the search for an import forward has finally reached fruition.
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“Jakub Kostelansky is now a Raider and broad shoulders will be needed both to carry the name and the expectations of the London fans.
“The 21-year-old, 6’2” forward comes from his last season in Slovakia where he played for his home town Povazska Bystrica in the North West of the country.
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“The pretty village has a good hockey history with two of Guildford’s present players having worn the uniform in recent years and Buffalo’s Andrej Meszároš coming from the region.”
Kostelanksy scored 70 points in 30 matches for Povaszska in the Slovakian Under-20 League in 2012-13, with another nine points in 16 matches for the senior side.
He tallied 11 points in 24 matches last season and has really impressed Raiders during recent practice sessions, breaking some of the Lee Valley rink plexi glass with a wristshot.
The club statement added: ““Jakub skates well, has good stick handling and a great shot and is going to work very well with his new team-mates.
“He certainly has youth on his side and whilst some will argue he lacks experience, he makes up for that in energy stamina and enthusiasm.
“Jakub will give the fans their first opportunity to create a chant for him this weekend, (good luck with that), and the home-and-away double header vs high flying Streatham will be a good test for the new players.
“As the play off push continues we reckon we just upped the game.”
