SPOKANE - Spokane Chiefs Defenseman Stefan Ulmer has signed a three-year contract
with the Lugano Hockey Club in the Swiss National League. Ulmer will
remain with the Chiefs through the end of the season and join HC Lugano
next year. The Swiss National League is the top professional league in
Switzerland.
"Coming into the WHL it was my goal to sign a professional contract,"
Ulmer said. "The last three years have opened doors for me that
wouldn't have been an option unless I came here."
Before joining the Chiefs, Ulmer played junior hockey in Switzerland for
the GCK Lions. Originally from Austria, Ulmer has played for his home
country in their last two World Junior Tournaments including their entry
at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Ulmer was named the Best
Defenseman of the 2009 IIHF Group B World Junior Hockey Championships
after leading Austria to the gold medal last year. Ulmer also led the
tournament in scoring with five goals and 11 points.
The 19-year-old is in his third season in Spokane and has played 163
games in a Spokane jersey. In 63 games last year, he set career highs
of eight goals, 32 assists and 40 points. In 60 games this season, he
has seven goals and 38 points. He was originally the Chiefs first round
pick in the 2007 CHL Import Draft and was a member of the 2008 Memorial
Cup Champions.
"It has been a nice three years. The Memorial Cup year will also be
something special and I just want to go as far as possible again this
year," he said.
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