Former Gophers hockey player and current Buffalo Sabres member Thomas Vanek will play in his native Austria during the NHL lockout.

Vanek will play for the Graz 99ers of the Erste Bank Hockey League, and his contract with the team runs until Nov. 4. Vanek is originally from Baden bei Wien, Austria.

During his two years at Minnesota, Vanek played in 83 games, scored 57 goals and tallied 56 assists.