Giroux Signs with Traktor Chelyabinsk
Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) announced Monday the signing of former Yale standout defenseman Ray Giroux for the 2010-11 season.
Giroux spent the past two seasons with SKA St. Petersburg (Russia). In 105 contests with St. Petersburg, Giroux compiled 30 points, including five goals. He appeared in seven playoff contests in two years, amassing one assist.
Prior to joining SKA St. Petersburg, Giroux spent three seasons with Ak Bars Kazan (Russia). Giroux compiled 13 goals and 20 assists and was a plus-28 for Ak Bars Kazan in 2007-08. He added two goals and two assists, and was plus-5 in 10 playoffs contests. In his three seasons with Ak Bars Kazan, Giroux amassed 35 goals and 59 assists in 153 games and compiled a plus-minus rating of plus-67.
The 1998 ECAC Hockey Player of the Year, Giroux enjoyed an outstanding collegiate career for the Bulldogs, garnering first-team all-ECAC Hockey and all-America honors in 1997-98. He also earned second-team all-ECAC Hockey honors in 1996-97. Giroux compiled 22 goals and 62 assists in 124 contests for Yale.
After concluding his collegiate career, Giroux played professionally for NHL's New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils, as well as Lowell, Bridgeport, Albany and Houston of the American Hockey League. He was named the AHL All-Star first-team in 2002-03 as a member of the Albany River Rats.
