Former Vipers Defenceman Farynuk Lands In Japan:

Former Vernon Vipers defenceman, Brad Farynuk is entering his first season with the Tohoku Free Blades, the newest member club of Asia League Ice Hockey. Farynuk played three years in Vernon (1999-2002) before playing four seasons at R.P.I. University. Farynuk then played six seasons in the AHL & ECHL before heading to Japan.

This is posted on the Tohoku Free Website:

Tohoku Free Blades seek improvement in second season

Sep 9, 2010

HACHINOHE CITY, Japan – “Let’s go Furibureizu (Free Blades)” is the cheer rocking the stands at four rinks which serve as home ice for the Tohoku Free Blades, the newest member club of Asia League Ice Hockey.

Based in the Tohoku region (Northeast part of the main Honshu Island) of Japan, the team was founded in October, 2008 and is backed by Xebio Co. Ltd., a major sports equipment retailer. Entering the Asia League in the wake of the Seibu Prince Rabbits, who went dark at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season, the Blades hired former Rabbits' Manager Chris Wakabayashi as its first head coach to assist Manager Keisuke Araki. Three former Rabbits' players also joined the Free Blades, including defenseman Ryuichi Kawai, left wing Bin Ishioka and forward Yoshikazu Koshino.
The 2009/10 roster was comprised of 22 Japanese and four Canadian “import” players, including forwards Bruce Mulherin and Jonathan Smyth and defensemen Brad Farynuk and Steve Munn.

After losing the first three games of their inaugural season, the Free Blades earned their first victory with a 5-3 win over the Nikko Ice Bucks in the second game of the two-game series in Nikko. At the end of the 36-game regular season, the team finished fifth in the league (ahead of the Nikko Ice Bucks and China Dragon) with a 17-19 record and 48 points.

Bruce Mulherin led the team in points (51) and goals (21) while Brad Farynuk led in assists (32) and PIM (128). Farynuk was named the Asia League’s best offensive defenseman. Forward Akifumi Okuyama was another standout with 39 points (15 G, 24 A) and 50 PIM.

The Free Blades’ new slogan is “Beyond The Next Level” and the 2010/11 roster reflects many new faces who are expected to move the team forward to greater success this season.

Among those new faces is forward Takeshi Tanaka, who played for Kaufbeuren ESV in the German Bundesliga last season where he put up 26 points (8 G, 18 A) and 26 penalty minutes in 46 regular season games and four points (2 G, 2 A) in six post-season contests. Tanaka previously played three seasons with the Seibu Prince Rabbits and will serve as team captain this year.

On August 31st, defenseman Cole Jarrett and forward Scott Champagne were announced as the newest import players to join the Free Blades.

Jarrett, 27, is entering his eighth pro season and has spent the past four years playing in Europe. Last season, with Graz 99ers in Austria, he tallied 24 points (7 G, 17 A) and 71 penalty minutes in 37 regular season games played and two assists during six playoff games.

Champagne, also 27, is entering his fourth pro season. Last season, with Eispiraten Crimmitschau in Germany, Champagne contributed 42 points (14 G, 28 A) and 67 penalty minutes in 44 regular season games and seven points (2 G, 5 A) in the post-season.

Returning players include goalies Michio Hashimoto and Daisukea Sakai, defensemen Brad Farynuk, Yuto Hara and Yasuhiro Ouchi and forwards Bruce Mulherin, Kota Tanaka, Sho Tanaka, Yoshikazu Koshino and Bin Ishioka.

This Saturday, the Free Blades will face the Nikko Ice Bucks for their final pre-season match.

They won their first pre-season contest against the Ice Bucks on August 28th (3-2). Following that victory was three straight losses during the 2010 AL Japan Cup tournament against Young Japan (5-2), Oji Eagles (9-0) and Nippon Paper Cranes (7-5).

Despite this, the team has a good mix of very competitive players and there’s no doubt that their motivation and hard work will translate into many successes on and off the ice this year.

The Free Blades will open the 2010-11 season on the road with a two-game series (September 18-19) against the Oji Eagles at Hakucho Arena in Tomakomai, Hokkaido. They will face the Nippon Paper Cranes for a two-game home opening series (September 25-26) at the Shin-Yokohama Skate Center in Yokohama.