Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongue’s star forward Brad Smulders has signed a one-year contract extension, making him the team’s first import signing for the 2010 season.

Smulders, 25, scored an Australian Ice Hockey League season record 33 goals in 2009 on his way to being voted team and AIHL Most Valuable Player. He also racked up 43 assists for the Blue Tongues before the team was knocked out of the playoffs earlier this year.

Smulders’ return is unusual for an import hockey player, as most don’t return to Australia after one season. But he said his desire to win silverware for the Gold Coast drew him back.

"I wanted to come back to the Blue Tongues because I met a lot of great people and I feel the team has a great chance of winning the championship," Smulders said from Holland, where he is currently playing with the Nijmegen Devils. "The people surrounding the organisation deserve to win something and I would love to be part of that."

Smulders, a native of Canada, said he didn’t think twice when offered the chance to play another season for the Blue Tongues. He cited the fans, the beach and the atmosphere of playing in Australia as contributing factors to his contract extension.

"I really love playing in Australia because hockey is not as popular and fans get a little more excited because of it," Smulders said. "For myself, I just want to win and have fun and score a few goals doing it."

Now re-signed, Smulders hopes to resume his winning, fun-loving and goal-scoring ways in April, when the Blue Tongue’s start their new season.