On a mission to be a recognized force within the American Hockey League, the Coachella Valley Firebirds have signed their first two players in the franchise's history. Joining the Firebirds are Samuel Buček and Ian McKinnon, both experienced players, according to the team website on Monday.
As part of Head Coach Dan Bylsma's plan to grow the Coachella Valley Firebirds into a strong member of the American Hockey League (AHL), these additions are looked at with great promise for their expected contribution to the League.
“We are building a team that leads with skill, tenacity and impact on and off the ice. Both Samuel Buček and Ian McKinnon have the potential to be strong leaders for our team, and we anticipate them having a solid impact in the AHL," Bylsma said in the announcement.
According to the Firebirds, the 32nd team of the AHL, 23-year-old Buček was the team's first player to be signed. His successful hockey career includes being recognized as the top scorer in Slovakia's professional league. He is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound winger, who led Extraliga scorers in the Czech Republic with 41 goals and 64 points playing for HK Nitra last season, the website said. Additionally, Buček was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) during last season's playoffs and has represented Slovakia in several international tournaments in years past, including the 2018 World Jr. Championships.
The second player signed, 24-year-old McKinnon, is also a winger who split time between multiple teams last season, playing for the AHL's Providence Bruins and two East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) teams; the Maine Mariners and Jacksonville Icemen. He also divided his time between Providence and Jacksonville during the previous two seasons. During the 2021-22 season, McKinnon helped Jacksonville earn a playoff berth. His record includes a combined six goals and four assists across 90 AHL/ECHL regular season games since 2019, the website said.