PLAYER DEPARTURE: Milan quits to join Milton Keynes

The veteran Czech forward’s exit has been an open secret for several weeks and his two-year deal has now been officially terminated with one season still to run.

Phantoms have put the exit of a player, who helped them to English Premier League play-off glory during a two-season stay at Planet Ice, down to family reasons.

But Baranyk has now made a mockery of that explanation by moving just 50 miles to Lightning.

In a brief Phantoms statement, coach Slava Koulikov said: “I want to thank Milan for his input on and off the ice in the last two seasons. We wish him all the best for the future.”

Baranyk contributed 139 points in his two campaigns in Phantoms colours.

Phantoms are already thought to have signed a new import forward in Czech giant Petr Stepanek.

His capture did briefly appear on ice hockey statistics website Elite Prospects as a done deal earlier this summer before being removed.

EPL clubs are now permitted to use five imports in games this season, but Phantoms will continue to operate with four.