Jason Deitsch waves to the crowd after being announced as playoff MVP

Brahmas re-sign playoff MVP Jason Deitsch

First player signed from championship team

He's a four-time champion, having contributed to the 2001 Robertson Cup Champion Texas Tornado (NAHL), the 2006 Colonial Cup Champion Kalamazoo K-Wings (UHL), 2008 Kelly Cup Champion Cincinnati Cyclones and now the 2009 Ray Miron President's Cup Champion Texas Brahmas.

The most valuable player of the 2009 Central Hockey League Playoffs is also the first member of the championship team to be signed to the 2009-10 roster.

"Deitsch was a key element in winning the Cup last season, and with his return, it will put us back on track for another great year. He has proven to be a franchise player and we look forward to what he can bring next season," said head coach Dan Wildfong.

Deitsch split the regular season playing with the Brahmas and the Houston Aeros (AHL), posting 44 points (20 G, 24 A) in 36 games for Texas and 15 points (4 G, 11 A) in 28 games with the Aeros. In the postseason, he scored an amazing 26 points (11 G, 15 A) in 16 games, including a hat trick in Game Five against the Colorado Eagles, rightly earning the title of playoff MVP.

The 29-year-old center joined the Brahmas last September for his fifth professional season after splitting time during the 2007-08 season with the Cincinnati Cyclones and Munich EHC in Germany. In 69 regular season games played between Europe and the ECHL, he put up 64 points (27 G, 37 A) and 175 penalty minutes. He played in 22 playoff games with the Cyclones, tallying 18 points (5 G, 13 A) and 35 penalty minutes.

In 2006-07, Deitsch also played with Cincinnati and posted more than a point a game with 71 points (26 G, 45 A) in 69 games. His strong play earned him an opportunity to play for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) where he saw action in six games and netted one goal.

During his rookie season in 2005-06, Deitsch played for the Kalamazoo Wings (UHL), where he was the leading scorer on the team with 87 points (38G, 49 A) in 72 games, the most by any rookie in the league. He was also named to the UHL’s All-Rookie team. He had 25 multi-point games, including six games with three or more and netted 37 points on the power play (18 G, 19 A).

Deitsch is the all-time leading scorer at St. Norbert College with 184 points (64 G, 120 A) in 122 games. St. Norbert posted a record of 101-13-10 during his career. In 2002-03, he gathered 53 points (19 G, 34 A) in 31 games, collecting a league-best 14 multi-point games. In 2003-04, he was the NCHA’s leading scorer, netting 53 points (19 G, 34 A) in 32 games. That season, St. Norbert lost in the NCAA Division III National Championship game, 1-0, in overtime. He had a league-best 19 multi-point games and 10 power play goals. In 2004-05, he was named a Division III All-America player, the first three-time pick in St. Norbert history. He was tied for the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association scoring lead with 47 points (16 G, 31 A).

He played for four seasons in the NAHL, including two seasons playing under coach Tony Curtale with the Texas Tornado. During his time playing Junior A, he tallied 173 points (73 G, 100 A) and 403 penalty minutes.

When I first spoke to Jason last year, he talked about his reasons for signing on with the Brahmas.

"I think Dan wants to win just as much or more than any coach I’ve ever talked to," he said. To see what he did last year as a first year coach to put together a team and then to see the guys that he is signing back this year and the new guys that he’s bringing in. You know, it’s really exciting for me because the ultimate goal every year is to win a championship....the will and want and the commitment. The whatever it takes to win. I know Dan’s got that here and he’s going to demand that from every player and that’s why I think this is going to be a really exciting year."

You can bet with Jason Deitsch back on the squad, we're in for another exciting year.

You can read my in-depth interview with Deitsch from last September here

Photo Credit: Robert Keith