Former Bull Jan Mursak stars for Slovenia in 3-2 O.T. upset of Americans
Former Belleville Bulls forward Jan Mursak will be the toast of Ljubljana — the capital of Slovenia — after leading the underdog Slovenians to a 3-2 O.T. upset win over the USA in both teams' opening game of the 2018 Winter Olympic men's hockey tournament Wednesday in Peongchang, South Korea.
Mursak scored the third-period game-tying goal, then notched the winner in overtime to lift Slovenia.
Mursak, 30, arrived in Belleville via trade from Saginaw during the 2007-08 OHL campaign. He scored 11 goals and totalled 38 points in 31 games as a Bull, adding 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 21 playoff games as Bulls advanced to the Memorial Cup tournament in Kitchener.
Mursak was a sixth-round pick (182) of the Detroit Red Wings at the 2006 NHL draft. In 46 career NHL games he has 2-2-4 scoring totals.
Mursak spent five seasons in the KHL before joining Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League this season. He had nine points in nine games for the Swedish club — including five goals — at the Olympic break.
• Team Germany
Another former Bull, defenceman Bjorn Krupp, is on the German roster at the Winter Games. The six-foot-three blueliner played three seasons with the Bulls, 2008-11, scoring twice and adding 24 assists in 185 career OHL games.
Krupp, 26, who was born in California, is currently playing in the German Elite League for Wolfsburg. He's the son of former longtime NHL rearguard, Uwe Krupp.
• Team Canada
Led by team captain Chris Kelly of the AHL Belleville Senators, the Canadian men's team opens its preliminary-round schedule Thursday vs. Switzerland. Game time on CBC-TV is 7 a.m. ET.
Notes from The Intelligencer.
