Slovak winger and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Alex Čiernik, 20, has signed a one-year contract with the Lahti Pelicans, the Finnish Liiga club announced on Wednesday. There he will be play for head coach Sami Kapanen, who used to be a pro scout and development coach in the Philadelphia organization for prospects playing in Europe.

“Everything feels very different now, but in a positive way,” said Čiernik. “I have known the head coach for a few years now and I love the way the Pelicans play. Also, a few of my old teammates have played in Lahti, and everything I have heard about the organization, the city and the fans has been nothing but good. The decision was ultimately quite easy for me.”

“We are very happy to welcome Alex,” said Kapanen. “I have personal history with him for a couple of seasons as a player developer, so I know his strengths well. He is a Flyers prospect who has experience in Europe and North America. In him, we are getting a powerful, fast and skilled forward. Great potential, especially on offense.”

Born in Wolfsburg, Germany, while his father Ivan played pro hockey there, Čiernik played youth hockey in Germany and Sweden, getting a taste of pro hockey with Södertälje SK and Västerviks IK in Sweden’s second-tier league, the HockeyAllsvenskan.

Drafted in the fourth round, 120th overall, by Philadelphia in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Čiernik joined the AHL’s Leigh Valley Phantoms for the final three games of the 2024-25 regular season, recording one assist, and was expected to sign an entry-level deal with the Flyers this season.

Instead, he will get his first taste of top-tier hockey in Finland. He joins a Pelicans team that finished 15th out of 16 Liiga teams last season, so if nothing else, he should get an opportunity to play.

Among the more notable names on the Pelicans roster are a pair of Czechs – goaltender Patrik Bartošák and defenseman Michal Jordán.

Sami Kapanen Leaves Philly, Takes Head Coaching Job in Finland Sami Kapanen is the new head coach of the Lahti Pelicans, <a href="https://pelicans.fi/fi-fi/article/uutinen/sami-kapanen-lahden-pelicansin-uudeksi-paavalmentajaksi/6576/">the Finnish Liiga club announced on Monday</a>.