OULU, Finland – Well-travelled Canadian Daniel Corso, 30, signed with Finnish Champions Hockey League club Karpat Oulu. The dependable centre split last season between Russia’s Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod and the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.

Montreal-born Daniel Corso put up great numbers during his junior career in Victoriaville in the QMJHL where in his best year (1996-97) he amassed 119 points in 54 games.

The same season Corso was drafted the St. Louis Blues (7th round, 169th overall) but his NHL career was limited to 77 games. He had his best NHL output in 2000-2001, scoring ten goals and adding three assists in 28 games. The next season he recorded 41 NHL games, but his production went down to 11 points.

After five seasons in the American Hockey League and a short stint with the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers, Corso went to Europe where he spent two seasons in the DEL, with the Kassel Huskies and the Frankfurt Lions.

Corso started the 2007-2008 season in Russia, but returned to Canada in December and signed with the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs. He has 25 points in 35 games in Hamilton.

Corso should be a nice fit to Karpat’s well-known team concept which has proved so successful in European club competitions.

”Corso will definitely strengthen our team and he will fill an important role within our system,” said head coach Matti Alatalo. ”He is fast and a very good all-round player.”

Alatalo has replaced Kari Jalonen, who moved to SM-Liiga rival HIFK Helsinki.

Karpat will open their Finnish regular season on September 11 (home vs. SaiPa Lappeenranta) while the first Champions Hockey League game is on CHL opening night, October 8, at home against Eisbaren Berlin. The third team in the CHL Group A is Metallurg Magnitogorsk.