Off Ice News

With the leagues first international break taking place this week we'll jump right in to this weeks off ice news, which includes a potentially big addition for Frölunda.

Eriksson

Swedish hockey fans will be very familiar with Frölundas new addition Loui Eriksson. The 37 year old forward returns to his home town team after playing the past 16 seasons in the NHL with Dallas, Boston, Vancouver and most recently Arizona. Eriksson came up through the Frölunda junior program and played two seasons with the big team before being drafted 33rd overall in 2003 by the Dallas Stars.

– We have had an ongoing dialogue with Loui Eriksson since last summer and we've finally got it together. We wanted to and Loui Eriksson was eager and determined, he is really passionate about Frölunda. We believe that he can help our team. At the same time, we understand that it will take some time before he is ready for the ice, says sporting director Fredrik Sjöström.

Eriksson has had a long and successful career thus far. His accolades include a Swedish championship with Frölunda the season before he left for the NHL, a World Championship bronze, silver and gold medal, an Olympic silver medal, he was an NHL All Star in 2010/11 and he is one of just 357 players in history to reach a thousand games played. His career NHL total amounts to 1,050 games 253 goals and 360 assists.

Mascherin

24 year old Canadian Adam Mascherin is getting another shot in Skellefteå after a devastating injury last fall left him unable to play for the remainder of the season.

– He will come to Skellefteå today and here he will be examined by a doctor. If everything looks good, he will do the last part of his training here to be match-ready and play the rest of the season with us, says sporting director Erik Forssell.

After scoring seven goals in fifteen games to start the season with Skellefteå last year Mascherin quickly became a fan favourite. Unfortunately a serious shoulder injury that required extensive surgery sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Now he is back and hoping to pick up where he left off.

Hjalmarsson

Another NHL veteran has signed with an SHL team this week as Niklas Hjalmarsson returns to the team that he was part of during his junior years, HV71. Hjalmarsson was drafted 108th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2005 but quickly became a mainstay on their blue line after joining the team in 2008.

– I am very dedicated and it has been fun to join the team and get to know the guys. Now I will do everything I can to help the club and my hometown that helped me in my start of my career, says Hjalmarsson.

The 35 year old defenseman has spent 14 seasons in the NHL, playing in a total of 822 games with Chicago and Arizona. He is also a three time Stanley Cup Champion, winning it all in 2010, 2013 and 2015 with The Blackhawks. He also won an Olympic Silver Medal with Sweden in 2014.

Karhunen

Brynäs swapped one Finnish goalie for another this week as they part ways to Veini Vehviläinen and welcome Tomi Karhunen. The 33 year old net minder has a diverse resume that includes three seasons in the KHL, three seasons in Switzerland and ten seasons in Finland. He also spent a single season with Brynäs during 2018/19 in which he appeared in twelve games.

– When Brynäs came up as an alternative, I didn't have to think long. I'm really looking forward to playing for the club again. I know the city, the organization and several in the team and management staff, which feels good. Now I want to get started and help the team win, says the new goalkeeper.