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Transactions:
Signed by New Jersey Devils(NHL) on July 25, 2000.
Signed by Florida Panthers(NHL) as an unrestricted free agent on July 11, 2003.
Signed by San Diego Gulls(ECHL) as an unrestricted free agent on October 10, 2004.
Signed by Long Beach Ice Dogs(ECHL) as an unrestricted free agent on October 3rd, 2005.
Signed by Cardiff Devils (EIHL) as an unrestricted free agent on September 1st, 2006.

Season xTeam xxxxxxxxxLeague xGP G xA PTS PIM
1995-96 Torpedo U-Ka xRus Jr x21 13 12 25 22
1996 xxxTeam Israel xxIIHF U20 5 x4 x5 x9 x8
1997 xxxTeam Israel xxIIHF U18 4 x4 x3 x7 x4
1997 xxxTeam Israel xxIIHF D xx3 x1 x2 x3 x0x
1997-98 Shelburne xxxxJrA xxxx12 x7 11 18x 8
1998 xxxTeam Israel xxIIHF D xx4 x2 x4 x6 x2
1998-99 Shelburne xxxxJrA xxxx35 20 22 42 25
1999 xxxTeam Israel xxIIHF D xx4 x2 x5 x7 x4
1999-00 Newmarket xxxxJrA xxxx47 50 32 82 52
2000 xxxTeam Israel xxIIHF D xx4 x6 x6 12 x4x
2000-01 Albany xxxxxxxAHL xxxx50 x7 x6 13 24
2001 xxxNew Jersey * xNHL xxxxx3 x1 x0 x1 x2x
2001-02 Albany xxxxxxxAHL xxxx40 x6 x7 13 22
2002 xxxNew Jersey * xNHL xxxxx2 x0 x0 x0 x2x
2002-03 Albany xxxxxxxAHL xxxx57 x6 x6 12 42
2003 xxxFlorida * xxxxNHL xxxxx1 x0 x1 x1 x0x
2003-04 San Antonio xxAHL xxxx17 x0 x2 x2 x6
2003-04 Laredo Bucks xCHL xxxx44 16 14 30 37
2004 xxxAHL Selects** Int xxxxx6 x3 x4 x7 x6
2004-05 San Diego xxxxECHL xxx69 19 30 49 63
2005-06 Long Beach xxxECHL xxx13 x4 x3 x7 10
2006-07 Cardiff DevilsEIHL xxx64 29 39 68 113
2007-08-Cardiff-DevilsEIHL----65-28-40-68-112

* - Exibition games
** - Exibition games played in Germany(DEL&2.B Leagues)

Awards:
2000 - IIHF WC Pool D MVP of Tournament
2004 - President's Cup winner with Laredo Bucks of CHL
2007 - British Knockout Cup winner with Cardiff Devils of EIHL

Birbraer is on his way back to Cardiff

Jul 9 2007

by Anthony Woolford, South Wales Echo

CARDIFF Devils have today beaten off competition from ice hockey teams in Germany and Switzerland to sign power forward Max Birbraer. The Kazakhstan-born winger has committed himself to the Devils for another season and general manager Brent Pope said: “Max was a huge part of our success last season and his commitment to return is an indication we are headed in the right direction.” “He is an extremely talented player who has game breaking ability. “Gerad Adams and I believe that Max and Sylvain Deschatelets will strike a good working relationship after playing in San Diego together. “They have a mutual respect for one another and we expect them to lead from the front and get us a strong start out of the gates this season.” Story continues ADVERTISEMENT Birbraer, 26, fired 68 points for the Devils last season including 29 goals. That was his return in a first season following a serious knee injury and he has pledged to be even better in 2007-08. “I came to Cardiff last season after a near career-ending knee injury,” said Birbraer. “Cardiff Devils gave me the chance to play again and I loved it. “It was always my plan to come back and I could not be happier we have reached agreement.” Birbraer will be welcomed back at the Devils first game when the Kazakhstan national anthem will ring around their Cardiff Bay rink in September. Player-coach Adams worked hard to bring Birbraer back and is ecstatic to have got his man. In some ways the powerful winger was more important than last season’s top scorer Mark Smith. It was Birbraer who played a key role in their partnership – and he is confident a similar understanding will be there with Deschatelets. The 6ft 2ins Birbraer spent three seasons playing for Albany River Rats in the American HL and was a third round choice for New Jersey Devils in the 2000 NHL entry draft. Birbraer’s commitment leaves Cardiff with two import slots to fill and coach Adams is still in North America talking to players. There is now just under two months left before Cardiff Devils start their Elite League season, taking on Coventry, Belfast, Edinburgh, Manchester, Nottingham, Basingstoke, Newcastle, Hull and Sheffield in the chase for glory. Cardiff won the British Cup last season, while they lost in the play-off championship final against Nottingham Panthers after a penalty shoot-out. It is unlikely anybody will feel the devastating pain of losing on penalties again. The rules for deciding the semi-finals and final have been changed. There will be two 10-minute periods of four on four overtime before penalties are used. terry.phillips@wme.co.uk

Devils return to the Max

The wait is over... The Kazakhstanian National Anthem will be ringing throughout the pine rafters of the Cardiff Bay Arena again this season... Max Birbraer is set to return to South Wales!
The 26 year old Israeli International had a career season with the Devils in 2006/07 recording 29 goals and 68 total points in 64 games and is set to take his game even higher in 2007/08. Player/Coach Gerad Adams has been on a roller coaster ride since the Playoffs ended negotiating the return of the Devil’s prolific winger.

“Max always indicated that he wanted to return to Cardiff and I know that he really enjoyed the city and the Devils’ fans and friends that he met last season. He wanted to be comfortable and settled and felt in his heart that Cardiff was the right place to be” says Player/Coach Adams. “I have always kept Max in mind when building this team.”

Admittedly, Maxim Birbraer has had one of the most interesting hockey journeys of any hockey player. Being Kazakhstanian born and a member of the Israeli National Ice Hockey team is not a commonly found player profile in your match night programme. Neither is the fact that Birbraer skipped Major Junior ‘A’ and the ECHL on his way to three seasons in the American League with the Albany Riverats direct from the Newmarket Hurricanes of the Ontario Tier II Junior ‘A’ League.

The New Jersey Devils 3rd round choice in the 2000 NHL Entry draft had the option of playing on the continent in Germany and Switzerland this season before eventually deciding to return to Wales. Like many impact players the perception that European pastures are always greener appears to have been outweighed by the comforts of Cardiff life. The likable 6’2, 200 pound winger enjoyed the physical style of play in the British Elite League and displays a versatility seldom seen from top offensive players.

Devils’ GM Brent Pope knows what a unique player Birbraer is and what he brings to the Cardiff team and dressing room.

“Maxy is an extremely talented player that has game breaking ability. He is a proud performer and was a huge part of our success last season. His commitment to return is another indication that we are headed in the right direction. Both Gerad and I felt that Max and Sylvain would strike a good working relationship after playing in San Diego together. They have a mutual respect for one another and we expect them to lead from the front and get us a strong start out of the gates this season.”

The Devils have two remaining import positions to fill and Gerad Adams is currently in talks with a number of players who would combine playing for the Devils alongside University studies at the Cardiff Business School. With still two months to go before the home opener Devils Coach Gerad Adams is pleased with how the new team looks so far. “Things have gone well and I am pleased with Max returning. These last couple pieces of the puzzle will be key signings for us.”