New Hartford native Mike Zalewski has signed to the play for the Straubing Tigers in Germany. Straubing plays in the country's top hockey league, the DEL.

Mike Zalewski admits he has ‘a little work to do’ when it comes to learning German.

The New Hartford native and popular Utica Comets forward will need to have at least some knowledge of the language after it was announced Monday the 24-year-old signed to play with the Straubing Tigers in Germany. The hockey team, which is based in the southern part of the country, plays in Germany’s elite league, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

“I'm really excited about it,” Zalewski said Monday. “I think just a fresh start with new opportunities will be good. It’s new everything. It’s a new country. It’s a new team. ... I’m excited for the new opportunities that it brings.”

The move overseas comes after Zalewski, the versatile lefthanded center and wing known for his aggressive and dogged style on both ends of the ice, played the majority of the last three seasons with the hometown Comets after joining the Vancouver Canucks organization at the end of the 2013-14 season.

“It is a time in my career that I’ll look back on and smile about. It was awesome for me to be able to play in front of family and friends. It gave me something that will always be special, including a lot of great teammates,” said Zalewski, who accumulated 24 goals and 39 assists 167 regular-season AHL games and added a goal and three assists in 27 postseason contests with the Comets. “It was something I was lucky enough to do. …

“Anybody that’s played in the AHL … will tell you it’s a difficult league and not an easy thing to do. I had some good opportunities. … I wouldn’t change anything.”

Zalewski said he leaves next week for Europe, because his new team soon begins an extended training camp. Straubing’s regular season is set to start the second week of September, according to the team’s website. The team finished with a 21-24-4-3 record last season.

And though Zalewski said he’s never been to Germany, he’s pretty familiar with one of his new teammates. That’s because his older brother, Steven, is returning to Straubing for a third consecutive season. Steven, who turns 31 in August, spent time in both the AHL (383 games) and NHL (10 contests) with San Jose and New Jersey.

“It’s an added bonus,” Mike said of playing with Steven, who has 22 goals and 35 assists in 102 regular-season games with Straubing. “He obviously played a factor (in signing with the team). ... I’m excited to play with him.”

Mike Zalewski, who like Steven is a former New York state Player of the Year while playing at New Hartford, said he’s lucky for the opportunity to learn from his sibling. The two spent time together during Comets’ training camp in 2014.

Straubing General Manager Jason Dunham said on the team’s website the addition of the younger Zalewski is “very special” with his pro experience a positive for the Tigers.

“I look forward to the opportunity to possibly play an impactful role on a fresh sheet of ice and prove what I can do in an offensive role,” said Zalewski, who also was a key player recently on Utica's special teams.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Mike Zalewski became an unrestricted free agent this summer after he did not receive a qualifying offer from Vancouver, which has limited spots throughout the organization going into the 2017-18 season due to the recent addition of other young talent. Zalewski is the latest player from last season’s team to sign elsewhere, joining forwards Alex Grenier, Curtis Valk, Derek Hulak and defenseman David Shields. The moves, combined with decisions made by Vancouver officials this fall, mean the Comets will likely have their share of new faces for their fifth season.

Last season, Zalewski was slowed by a November injury after colliding with the net in an effort to break up a play against Hartford. The injury caused him to miss more than a month of action. He said he’s healthy now and ready to go.

“Obviously, it’s still my dream to have an NHL career,” said Zalewski, who made six regular-season appearances with Vancouver. “I definitely wouldn’t close the door on that possibility. But, for the time being, I’m focused on (Straubing) and what’s ahead of me.”

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