Stepanek won't be back at Phantoms

Czech giant Petr Stepanek won't be a Peterborough Phantoms player next season.
Petr Stepanek.Petr Stepanek.
Petr Stepanek.

Coach Slava Koulikov has confirmed the departure of the 6ft 5ins import forward after one campaign in the club’s colours.

Stepanek piled up 71 points - thanks to 32 goals and 39 assists – while helping Phantoms finish fourth in the English Premier League, and reach the cup final, last term.

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But the city club are now planning for life in the re-branded second tier of the sport – the Premier Ice Hockey League – from next season when they will only be permitted to sign three overseas players, rather than the five allowed last season.

Koulikov said: “Petr won’t be back, but I want to thank him for everything he did for us. He is a good guy with a great shot, and was a big part of the team.

“I had a tough decision to make due to the import limit coming down and I wanted to let Petr know the situation as early as possible.”

Koulikov gave no clues about the identities of the import players he does plan to recruit for 2017/18.

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Speculation suggests Australian ace Wehebe Darge, who arrived in the early weeks of last term, is unlikely to return.

Kolulikov does hope to be able to announce a British signing at the club’s end-of-season awards bash tonight (Thursday).