Bloomington Bison [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/season-in-review-knight-monsters-make-playoffs-bison-barely-miss-out]General Manager and Head Coach, Phillip Barski, announced today the team has signed forward Mark Kaleinikovas to an ECHL standard player contract. Kaleinikovas, 26, appeared in 30 games last season with JKH GKS Jastrzebie of the Poland League. He totaled 27 points (14-13-27) with a +6 rating. Kaleinikovas’ 14 goals ranked tied for third on the team. In addition, he collected eight points (4-4-8) in 14 post-season games. The Kaunas, Lithuania native has spent the previous three seasons playing in Poland and has represented his country in international play. During his career in Poland, Kaleinikovas amassed 85 points (37-48-85) in 94 games. He also produced 28 points (17-11-28) in 40 post-season games. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound forward won the Polish Championship in 2023-24 and scored the championship clinching goal. Last season, Kaleinikovas claimed a World Championship (D1B) Gold Medal with Team Lithuania and tallied the most goals (four) among all players with in just five games. The Bison are coming off a 31-35-4-2 record (68 points) put the Bison seventh in the Central Division. They stayed in playoff contention until Apr. 9, when they were officially eliminated from the race by the Indy Fuel. The club will open their second ECHL season at home on Saturday, Oct. 18 when they face the Iowa Heartlanders. (Photo Courtesy of the Bloomington Bison)
