DaytonDailyNews.com

A house, a wife and a "real" job — Greg Labenski is not your typical ECHL hockey player.

The Ontario native will return to the Dayton Bombers lineup for a third consecutive season and fourth overall. The veteran defenseman, who now calls Dayton home, will start his 11th professional season when the puck drops at the Nutter Center on Oct. 18. Labenski is one of five players who recently signed with the Bombers for the 2008-09 season.

"I consider this my hometown and to play for my hometown team is a big advantage," Labenski said. "And it's great to go home — a real home — after a game."

At 30, Labenski will likely be among the oldest players on the Dayton roster. With age, however, comes experience including 617 regular-season games and 296 career points.

"I also have a lot of playoff experience and have proven myself on and off the ice," Labenski said.

Labenski was at the top of the list of players who Bombers coach Bill McDonald was hoping to sign this summer.

"Greg brings everything to the table," McDonald said. "Coachability, accountability, hockey skills — he's a coach's dream."

The veteran defenseman has played 80 games in the American Hockey League but while other ECHL players wait anxiously for their phone to ring with an AHL call-up, Labenski has become more selective.

"I'm not a 20-year-old kid. I've done the up and down and up and down and up and down thing, living in hotel rooms, eating out every day, it gets old," Labenski said. "I'm at a point in my career that if I'm going to get a call-up, it needs to be good for me and my family," he said.

Labenski remains open to options, but he isn't looking for a weekend of AHL ice time.

"If someone tells me 'we know what you can do and we want you to be part of the organization for the long run,' I'm there," Labenski said. "I know I'm not a kid anymore, but I've proven myself at this level and I know I could play at the next level."

That's not to say, Labenski wasn't happy to sign on the dotted line with the Bombers. "This is my team and I want to be here," he said. "And winning at this level opens a lot of doors for a lot of guys, so that's my focus — winning."

For now, however, his employer, Heidelberg Distributors, and his yard will get most of his attention.

Labenski by the Numbers

617 Number of career regular season games played and an additional 97 playoff games

326 Total professional points tallied with 72 goals and 254 assists

39 Labenski led all Bombers defensemen last season with 39 points (6 goals, 33 assists)