(Lebanon, Ill., Aug. 24) – McKendree University men's hockey head coach Garry Henson has announced that former St. Louis Blues player Lubos Bartecko will be joining the Bearcats as an assistant coach this season.
 
Bartecko is a native of Kezmarok, Slovakia, and brings a wealth of experience to the Bearcats coaching staff. He has enjoyed an exceptionally successful playing career including five-seasons in the National Hockey League, two Olympic appearances (2006, 2010), as well as numerous years playing professional hockey internationally. Bartecko also represented his home country, Slovakia, in the IIHF World Championships where he helped to win the silver medal in 2000 and the gold medal in 2002.
 
 "As a player, I was always a leader and had a lot of involvement with my coaches, so making the transition from player to coach is always what I envisioned as the next level of my career," said Bartecko. He has retired from playing hockey and set his focus on coaching. During the summer of 2016, he worked with fellow McKendree coach Derek Pallardy and former St. Louis Blues teammate Jamie Rivers at Synergy Hockey Camp in St. Louis.
 
During his five-year NHL career, Bartecko totaled 257 games and 111 points (46 goals, 65 assists), playing for the St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Thrashers. During his three seasons with the Blues, Bartecko amassed 68 points (26 goals, 42 assists) and was an integral part of the 1999-00 President's Trophy-winning team alongside his fellow countrymen Pavol Demitra and Michal Handzus.
 
"We are very excited to add Lubos to the McKendree men's hockey program," said Henson. "His playing resume speaks for itself. He has experienced the game at the highest level across the globe."