BERN, Switzerland - Swiss hockey club Bern says it has signed the New York Islanders centre John Tavares during the NHL lockout.
Tavares will join Islanders captain Mark Streit, arguably Switzerland's best export to the NHL, at the club.
Bern says the 22-year-old Canadian will arrive in Switzerland on Tuesday and start training the next day.
Tavares was the first pick of the 2009 NHL draft and earned his first All-Star Game selection last season, in which he earned 81 points in 82 games.
Bern, which is one of the best supported teams in Europe, says it got financial backing from a benefactor to help pay for Tavares's contract.
