A knee ligament injury has halted import defenceman Michal Benadik’s Dynamos career before it has even started but Head Coach Kevin Parrish has moved quickly to fill the void by acquiring Slovak Extraliga blue liner Ondrej Zosiak.

Michal Benadik joined the Mos in the summer from the Elite League’s Edinburgh Capitals but an unfortunate incident in training back in his home country saw the skater suffer knee ligament damage that will require surgery and a five month lay-off. The injury leaves Benadik unable to ice for the Dynamos in 2015/16 but the club would like to wish him a speedy and full recovery and a return to the ice sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile Head Coach Kevin Parrish has moved quickly fill the void by capturing 24 year old Slovakian defenceman Ondrej Zosiak who arrives in Gillingham with a wealth of experience including 118 outings in his country’s top division. The blue liner surged through the ranks at HKM Zvolen before first appearing in the Slovak Extraliga in 2010/11 aged 20. Since then the skater has also appeared in his nation’s second tier, in Poland and in Austria but now he will be adding Britain to his CV as his flies in to pen a deal with the Dynamos.

‘Stay at home defenceman’ Ondrej Zosiak signs for the Mos after scooping 11 points in 7 games in Austria’s second division, 19 from 70 outings at Slovakia’s second level and 10 from 118 appearances in the Extraliga – his country’s top division. His experience back home will prove invaluable to the Dynamos’ young rear guard with his history in the game so far placing him well to make an impact in the NIHL South Division 1 come the first puck drop of 2015/16.

Speaking on the latest import on goings at the club Head Coach Kevin Parrish said, “It’s a huge shame to lose Michal Benadik but sadly injuries are a part of hockey and we can do no more at this time than wish him a speedy recovery and all the best for the future. With Michal out of action we have moved quickly to sign Ondrej Zosiak who joins us with an excellent pedigree having featured over 100 times in the Extraliga back home. Ondrej has spent the majority of his career in Slovakia but has recently branched out to Poland and Austria and is now looking to make his name in the UK. He has an excellent CV and experience at levels well above our own so I’m sure he will be a key figure for the club during the course of 2015/16”.

Ondrej Zosiak takes the club’s import tally back to two following the unfortunate exit of Michal Benadik as he joins Latvian forward Eriks Ozollapa in making debuts in both the NIHL South Division 1 and England as a whole. The pair will line-up for the Dynamos in just over two weeks’ time when the team begin their campaign on home ice against the Bracknell Hornets on Sunday 20^th September at 5.15pm.

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

Warm-up Jersey – For just £125 get your name or logo printed on the back of Ondrej Zosiak’s warm-up jersey. Sponsors are then presented with the jersey to keep at the end of the season.

Game jerseys – Get your name or logo on the back of Ondrej Zosiak’s game jerseys and become a part of the action.

Contact Jackie Mason by email at [email protected] for player sponsorship details or enquiries.