Two European Elite League hockey clubs have signed Premiere Hockey Services Players for the upcoming season, Dan Delaney has announced.

  MODO of the Swedish Elite League has signed former NCAA College standout and Hobey Baker candidate Francois Bouchard to a one year contract.  The former Tampa Bay Lightning draft selection has played the past three seasons in Europe with both Oulun-Karpat of the Finnish first Division and Augsburg of the German DEL.

  Bouchard was a former college standout having played four seasons at Northeastern University having been selected for numerous awards that included being a Hobey baker candidate in 1994 and being a NCAA Division I Senior All Star and First Team Hockey east All Star Selection.  MODO is one of the top teams in Europe and has always been known for developing top players for teams in the National Hockey League, most noticeably the top two 1999 draft selections, the Sedin brothers who currently play for MODO.

  Ritten of the Italian Elite League has signed forward/defensemen Ken Ruddick split last season with the Augusta Lynx and Louisiana Ice Gators of the East Coast Hockey League.

  Ruddick is no stranger to European hockey, he has had stints with the Manchester Storm of the British Super League and a club in the Dannish Elite League.  A former Ontario Hockey League first round draft selection of the Niagara Falls Thunder where he played with current NHL players Keith Primeau, Brad May and Paul Laus.

  Ruddick's career has included stints with Niagara Falls and Belleville of the OHL, Wilfred Laurier of the OUAA, Augusta, Louisiana, ECHL, Phoenix, WCHL, and Austin of the WCHL.

Achievements and Statistical Information

Francois Bouchard

Ken Ruddick