Esdale Returning to Europe
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BILLINGEHOV, Sweden -- After spending the 2007-08 season competing in the Central Hockey League (CHL), former Brown defenseman Paul Esdale is returning to Europe. The Edmonton, Alberta native has joined Skövde IK, the Swedish ice hockey club announced Thursday.
Esdale, 29, spent parts of the 2005-06 and 2006-07 competing in Europe, representing Nykoping (Sweden), Essen (Great Britain) and Heilbronn (Germany). In 26 games overseas, Esdale compiled four goals and 11 assists.
"Paul is a smart player," said coach Hasse Ljunggren. "If you use him in the right way, he will provide great benefits to the team. He is a spectacular player who is bound to become a public favorite in Billingehov."
The former Brown standout (1999-03) spent the 2007-08 campaign with the Colorado Eagles (33 games) and Corpus Christi Rayz (three games). He scored four times and assisted on 15 goals.
In his four-year career at Brown, Esdale amassed 67 points, including 25 goals, in 119 contests. His most prolific offensive campaign was 2002-03 as he tallied nine goals and 17 assists in 35 contests.
