Getty Images Chris Stewart‘s European adventure continues.
That’s the news out of Germany on Thursday as Stewart has reportedly left Czech Extraliga team Liberec to resume playing for Bundesliga squad Eispiraten Crimmitschau, according to the team website.
Stewart, 25, first signed with Crimmitschau in late September along with Flyers forward and close friend Wayne Simmonds.
Stewart played in nine games for the Ice Pirates — yes, Ice Pirates — scoring 5G-6A-11PTS before he and Simmonds jumped to the Czech league.
In Liberec, the pair was playing against a higher level of competition while skating alongside fellow locked-out NHLers Ondrej Pavelec and Ladislav Smid.
But according to agent Eustace King, both thoroughly enjoyed their time in the German second division.
“The guys loved playing in Crimmitschau,” King explained. “The fans were one of the best they ever played in front of and the coach and management treated them first class.”
So, no huge surprise Stewart decided to return.
His decision was also likely influenced by the fact he’d done very little with Liberec, registering just one assist in five games.
It’s also worth noting his time in the Extraliga was marred by a racially-charged incident when fans of Czech club Chomutov subjected Simmonds to chants of “Opice” — “monkey” in English — during a game on Oct. 28.
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Good news for Phoenix hockey fans? (Or just…news.)
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“You don’t win a Stanley Cup without going through something like that.”
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What happens to the coach if the Rangers get swept tonight?
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When asked if Ottawa could come back from a 3-1 series deficit against Pittsburgh, he said “probably not.”
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Cue the buyout speculation.
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Will he be challenging Ryan Miller for it?
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He’s frustrated nothing got done in Calgary.
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He constructed the silver medal-winning team at the 2010 games in Vancouver.
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“It’s been pretty quiet for a while now.”
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“(Gillis’) fault all the way.”
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Additionally, Chicago will play Detroit and the Kings will host the Sharks.
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Thursday’s collection of links
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They rank first and second in shorthanded goals in the 2013 playoffs.
