The Biloxi-based Mississippi Surge of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) announced Set. 23 that they have signed forward Tim Velemirovich for the 2009-10 season.
"Velemirovich is a proven scorer at this level, and hopefully with some talented young players around him he can continue his success," said head coach Steffon Walby.
A native of Thompson, Velemirovich played three seasons at the University of Manitoba, scoring 25 goals and 15 assists in 101 career games from 2003-06 for the Bisons. Over two seasons with the Fayetteville FireAntz of the SPHL, the 6-0, 194-pound Velemirovich scored 53 goals and 107 assists in 108 regular season games, and contributed six goals and eight assists in 13 playoff games.
Fayetteville won the 2007 President's Cup for the SPHL title by beating Jacksonville.
Velemirovich was named to the 2007-2008 All-SPHL second team, his second consecutive All-SPHL selection, and was also the 2006-07 SPHL rookie of the year. In 2007-2008, Velemirovich netted 23 goals and 48 assists for a team-leading 71 points in 52 games. He was the fourth leading scorer in the SPHL.
During his time with the Bisons, he twice won the Mike Ridley Award for superior athletic ability, good academic standing and high level of leadership as a full-time student. He also shared the Bisons men's hockey most improved player award with Rhett Nevill in 2004-05. Velemirovich also played with the Chippawa Riverhawks of the Ontario Hockey Association's Niagara and District Junior C hockey league.
The Surge begin their season October 24 against the Louisiana Ice Gators.
