With over 120 appearances in the Elite League, the Invicta Dynamos have welcomed 28 year old Slovakian defenceman Michal Benadik to the club.

He is one of the side’s two permitted non-EIHA trained players for 2015/16.

The Dynamos’ new number 41 hails from central Slovakia where he rose through the junior ranks before appearing for MsHK Prievidza in the country’s second tier as early as 2005/06. He would spend four and a half seasons in the Slovak 1.liga making 187 appearances for his hometown club and managing 33 points in the process.

His form caught the attention of Dunarea Galati – a side playing at the highest level of Romanian ice hockey – and he would switch countries in 2010 to begin a two season stint at the Galati Skating Rink. Benadik would feature 65 times in the red, white and blue of the Romanian outfit over the course of two campaigns chipping in with 8 goals and 36 assists in the process for 44 points.

In 2012/13 Michal Benadik then arrived on UK shores for the first time having been headhunted by the Elite League’s Edinburgh Capitals and he became an increasingly important figure throughout the season with 54 outings in Scotland’s first city. A further 57 followed in 2013/14 before the Slovak returned home to MsHK Prievidza having featured 111 times in the UK with 4 goals and 18 assists to his name.

Benadik’s Scottish stint was still far from over though and, having spent the first half of the new campaign in his home nation, the Capitals would turn to him again in February to resolve an injury crisis. He would ice in the Elite League a further 12 times taking his total Edinburgh appearances to 123 and he will now bring that experience to Southern England and to the NIHL South Division 1 having penned a deal with the Dynamos.

Speaking on the capture of Michal Benadik, Head Coach Kevin Parrish said, “I’m very pleased to be bringing such an experienced player as Michal to the Mos for 2015/16.”

“At 28 he joins us having played in the Slovak 1.liga, Romania’s top tier and here in the Elite League and to have a C.V. like that at our club will certainly prove invaluable”.

The Dynamos supremo then added, “I signed Benadik having spoken at length to Scott Neil – the General Manager and owner of his former side the Edinburgh Capitals – and he left me in no doubt that Michal was the D-man I was after.”

“He’s big and strong, will work hard both in the corners and in front of his own net and, having been an out and out defenceman throughout his career, will certainly be looking after his own end before he looks to the offensive zone.”

“I think that’s something we’ve perhaps been missing at the Mos in recent seasons and I’m very confident Michal is going to be a superb addition at this level of the game”.

Michal Benadik’s capture takes the Dynamos roster to nine with further player signings to be revealed in the coming weeks and only one non-EIHA trained position yet to be announced.