The Coventry Blaze have announced the arrival of 26-year-old centreman J.D. Dudek, who will skate with the West Midlands outfit for the rest of the season.
Dudek joins the Blaze from Tranås AIF, for whom he contributed eight points (four goals, four assists) in 14 third division appearances in Sweden this season.
The New Hampshire-born forward also spent part of 2020-21 in the Nordic nation, accumulating 13 points (nine goals, four assists) in 21 appearances for Bodens.
Dudek, a former sixth round pick of the New Jersey Devils, enjoyed a successful junior career before he turned professional.
The American played two seasons in the USHL, including one with the Chicago Steel’s elite development programme, before scoring 56 points (28 goals, 28 assists) in 149 appearances for NCAA Boston College.
During his time with the Eagles, the right-shooter won the team’s most improved player award and lifted championships in 2015-16 and 2017-18.
After his graduation, Dudek produced 29 points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 70 ECHL appearances with the Worcester Railers and Allen Americans.
When asked about the signing, Blaze head coach Danny Stewart commented: “We wanted to add depth up the middle and to our line-up. We learned last season that you can never have enough centres and J.D. also can play wing.
“He is a 200-foot player that can play up and down the line-up and at different positions. He has a really good pedigree, and we feel is another guy that has a lot of upside. This provides us with cover should we drop a player due to injury, but I feel J.D. has the ability to work his way into the line-up once that opportunity arises too.
“He’s a hard-working guy that skates well. He compliments what we have, and we feel he will fit into our group nicely.”
Dudek is available for selection this weekend, as the Blaze face the Guildford Flames in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup.
Analysis: Coventry Blaze shrewd to make J.D. Dudek addition
The Coventry Blaze are ticking along nicely near the top of the Elite League with a balmy 16-7-1 record.
Danny Stewart’s squad are second to only the Guildford Flames… a sentence few anticipated in the offseason. But that is the reality.
The Blaze boast a superior points percentage than the Cardiff Devils, Belfast Giants, and Nottingham Panthers.They are contenders. And the arrival of extra centre depth proves that they intend to act like it.
Before the coronavirus ended the 2019-20 season early, Stewart & Co. were the league’s in-form team – thanks in no small part due to the arrival of mercurial netminder C.J. Motte.
They had the perfect combination of grit, speed, and skill to stick with the front-runners and had true upset potential heading toward the postseason. Sounds familiar?
Since then, it has been bumpy for the Blaze.
But they are off to a solid start this time around and have the chance to extend their form into the new year.
Dudek is the kind of sneaky, under-the-radar signing that could help the Blaze mount an unlikely title challenge.
This is a commendable move from a franchise that is seeking to make the most of the opportunity that has presented itself. Game on.
