NEWS

The Long Beach Bombers are proud to announce the signing of import forward, Roman Serafimovich. The 6’0, 185lb right shot is from Vitebsk, Belarus. He is the second Long Beach player to hail from the former USSR territory; the first was defenseman, Pavel Ratskevich. Roman comes to the Bombers after playing for Dinamo U20, last year, in the top Belarus senior league. In 2014-2015, Serafimovich played in the MHL (top Russian junior league), for Sakhalinskiye Akuly. For Dinamo, a group of the top Belarussian junior players competing in the top professional league, Roman had a stat line of 37GP-4G-5A-9Pts-28PIMs. In the MHL, he registered 56GP-6G-4A-10Pts-26PIMs. 

 

Serafimovich was born on February 15, 1996, which will likely make him the oldest player on the Bombers 2016-2017 squad. As a 17 year-old, Serafimovich was a 3rd Round draft choice (76th overall) of Dinamo Minsk in the KHL, the top Russian professional league. Roman is a KeySport Agency client, that has been on the Bombers radar for over a year. Last April, he attended the KeySport Agency International Camp, in Moscow. Bombers Head Coach and General Manager, Chris White, had his eye on the hard-working skilled forward, but could not reach a deal with him for the 2015-2016 WSHL season. Now, after over a month of discussions, the two sides have finally agreed. 

 

Andrey Matveev, Serafimovich's player agent from KeySport Agency in Moscow, says, “Roman is a right shot forward that was drafted in the KHL. In 2014, Roman came to my KeySport hockey camp as a young player with a lot of potential and fire in his eyes. The year after, he came again and he was such a fast player, with good physical size to play in the US. However, we decided to keep Roman in the MHL (top Russian junior league) and he did well in one of the best leagues in Europe. This April, Mr. Chris White GM/Head Coach of Long Beach Bombers, came to Moscow for KeySport Agency's International Camp, to scout players and one of the players was Roman Serafimovich. Roman has several pro offers right now, but we have a long partnership with the Bombers, and we are looking forward to them having a great season. Roman is very skilled, fast, and a good size player. He will be one of the best players in the league. In November 2016, you can come back and read my message about him, and you will see I am right. He will score at least 2 points per game, or more. I would say he can finish with 100 points this year, in the WSHL."

 

Long Beach Head Coach & General Manager, Chris White, commented, “This is an enormous signing for our organization. We have a lot of production to replace from our 2015-2016 club, and having Roman in the lineup is a good step in the direction of doing that. He is a very skilled right shot winger, that works his tail off. He is 100% hockey; and that type of commitment is what we have been seeking, and focusing on with our signings, the past couple of off-seasons. His professionalism and dedication will be very apparent to his teammates, both on and off the ice. Despite playing at such a high level, I think he has a ton of offensive potential that is yet to be realized. I expect after some coaching and a possible adjustment period, we’ll take the reigns off and see Roman become a top player in the WSHL. Sometimes, for a young player like him, the change of scenery and roles can really be a fresh re-start on a career. I foresee this new challenge leading to a lot of confidence that can help him jump over the hurdle into a successful professional career. I think Roman will be a leader, and fit in very well with the group. He already has spent a significant amount of time talking to Nikita Nikitin and Amir Burguev about Long Beach, the Bombers, and the WSHL. Both of those players also played a big role in this signing, which is another testament to how far our organization has come in recent years. The magnitude of this signing cannot be overstated, for us."

 

Roman’s Player Profile:  http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=250353

 

Q & A with Roman Serafimovich:

 

Last season, you played at the highest level of hockey in your home country of Belarus, for the Dinamo U20 team. Playing against professionals, some of whom have played in the NHL, how did it help your development as a hockey player?

It was very interesting and hard to play against those guys. You need to do a lot of work and progress to play at their level. It was a good experience. After each game, I learned something new. It was very cool to play there.

 

In 2014-2015, you played in Russia in the top junior league, the MHL. What are you expecting for next season, as you transition back into junior hockey?

Doesn't matter if you're playing pro or junior; in both you have to play on your level and work at 100%. I have never played in North America before, so it should be a good experience for me, and new challenge. I hope to help Long Beach Bombers win the cup.

 

In 2013, you were selected 76th overall, in the 3rd Round, of the KHL Draft. What was that moment like when your hometown team, Dinamo Minsk, drafted you?

That was unforgettable. I was really happy that I got drafted by Dinamo Minsk. It was good motivation.

 

You have attended the KeySport International Camp in Moscow, the past two seasons, along with Coach White. This year, you had a chance to meet some of your teammates for the 2016-2017 Long Beach Bombers season, Nikita Nikitin, Amir Burguev, & Oleg Senko. How much did knowing Coach White and some of the players help you to make your decision to sign with Long Beach?

It's a really good thing that I know my future teammates and coach. It is gonna be way easier for me at the beginning of the season because of it.

 

 

What type of player should Bombers fans expect to see when Roman Serafimovich is on the ice?

I don't like to rate my own game, the fans can do that. I'll do my best for the team.