The leaders of Genève-Servette Hockey Club are proud to announce that Swiss/Slovak striker Juraj Šimek has signed up until the end of the 2015-2016 season with an option to extend.
Born in Slovakia, Juraj trained with the SC Bern junior team before joining the Kloten Flyers where he played his first professional matches. In the summer of 2006, he flew off to Western Canada to complete his training with the Brandon Wheat Kings junior team.
Juraj then began a career in the American Hockey League but was never called on by the different NHL teams who owned his rights. In January 2011, he decided to return to Switzerland and landed in Geneva where he played for close to five years.
In December 2014, just before the Spengler Cup, Geneva released the player, who then left for Finland and joined TPS Turku. Failing to qualify for the playoffs, TPS Turku allowed Juraj to join Lugano for the end of a campaign that saw the Ticinese club eliminated by GSHC. Since then, Juraj has been training in Guin, where he has been waiting for an offer from the NLA.
Juraj Šimek will wear jersey number 14 and is immediately available.
Reaction
Chris McSorley: ‘We are very happy to announce the return of Juraj Šimek to Les Vernets. He was a regular player during his first stay at GSHC. His return can be nothing but a positive move as he has gained even more experience since leaving Geneva last December. With Pedretti recently injured and Rubin suspended, Juraj is bound to appear on the game sheet soon!’
Statistics
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 89 kg
Date of Birth: 29 September 1987