Release from 18.08.2021

Caps strengthen defense

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The spusu Vienna Capitals signed Shawn Lalonde to add depth to their defense. The 31-year-old Canadian has already played in Sweden with Färjestad BK, five years in the DEL 🇩🇪 and most recently two seasons in the KHL.

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Shawn Laonde has several connections to the spusu Vienna Capitals. In August 2008, the defenseman, who was drafted at number 68 in round three by the Chicago Blackhawks at the time, won the bronze medal with Canada's U18s under Caps head coach Dave Barr, at the elite Gretzky Hlinka Cup. In the 2014/2015 season, Lalonde played for Sweden's top club Färjestad BK, his coach was Tommy Samuelsson (Caps head coach from 2011 - 2014). The spusu Vienna Capitals made intensive efforts to sign the 31-year-old in recent months. Despite great offerts from European leagues, Lalonde decided to join the Caps.

Lalonde started his European career in 2013 with the Eisbären Berlin. After 299 games (53 goals, 136 assists) in the Ontario Hockey League for the Belleville Bulls (2006-2010), and 207 games in the American Hockey League (13 goals, 57 assists) for the Rockford Ice Hogs (2010-2013), the defenseman decided to leave North America. Lalonde took off right away in Germany's capital. With twelve goals, the Canadian became the DEL's most prolific defender during the first half of the season. Overall, Lalonde recorded 30 points in 50 games in his first European season.

After a stint in Sweden with Färjestad BK, Lalonde returned to Germany for the 2015/2016 season. Cologne was his new home from then on. With the Köllner Haie, he seamlessly continued his strong performances. In each of the following two seasons, Lalonde again took the scoring crown among DEL defensemen. In the 2016/2017 regular season, Lalonde was even the league's highest-scoring defenseman with 13 goals and 21 assists. In 2018, the league-wide move to the Nürnberg Ice Tigers then took place.

Lalonde spent the last two seasons in the KHL, in the service of Admiral Vladivostok and Severstal Cherepovets.

Dave Barr, head coach of the Capitals: "Shawn was one of my players in 2008 at the Gretzky Hlinka Cup. Even back then he showed his great talent. So I'm even more pleased that our paths are crossing again here in Vienna 13 years later. Shawn is an absolute team player, physically robust, has a great overview. He has a lot of experience and can be used in different game situations. His greatest asset, however, is certainly his tremendous shot."