Release from 18.07.2018
The Red Bull Hockey Juniors have signed five young Skandinavian players. Forward Fredrik Widen returns from Bad Nauheim (GER) to EK Die Zeller Eisbären. Besides, EC Bregenzerwald, Hockey Milano Rossoblu and HC Pustertal Wolves have announced contract extensions.
Fredrik Widen (SWE) returns from EC Bad Nauheim to EK Die Zeller Eisbären! The 25-year old forward played seven games for the German DEL/2-club at the end of the last season, netting one goal. Prior, Widen has been a key-player in Pinzgau: Widen has aready scored 66 points (26G/40A) out of 74 Alps Hockey League-games for the Polar Bears during the last two years.
Red Bull Hockey Juniors signed Skandinavian youngsters
The Red Bull Hockey Juniors have added the Skandinavian youngsters Jesper Kokkila (D, FIN), Valtteri Meisaari (D, FIN), Leevi Laakso (G, FIN), Oliver Nordberg (F, SWE) and Casper Evertsson (F, SWE) to their roster. 19-year old Kokkila defended for Chicago Steel in the USHL during the last two years. The defenseman scored two Assists out of 54 games during that span. Prior, Kokkila played for the youth teams of Kärpät. Meisaari will leave his home-country Finland for the first time. The 19-year old Fin has defended for SaiPa U20 2017/18. Prior, Meisaari played together with Kokkila in Oulun.
Leevi Laakso will be one of the goalies in Salzburg next season. The 20-year old Fin played in his home-county so far. Last year, Laakso guarded the net of Hermes in Mestis League and earned a save% of 86,3 and a GAA of 2.89 out of 18 games. Besides, he played for the U20-team of Hermes.
The forwards Oliver Nordberg and Casper Evertsson (both SWE) went from Sweden to Salzburg. Each forward leaves his home-country for the first time. Nordberg and Evertsson are known as reliable (goal-)scores and have already played in the same team in Brynäs until the 2016/17-season. Last season, Evertsson played successfully for Södertälje U20, scoring 56 points (19G/37A) out of 47 games. Nordberg had 49 points (15G/34A) out of 41 games for the U20-team of Brynäs IF.
EC Bregenzerwald, HC Pustertal Wolves and Hockey Milano Rossblu announced contract extensions
The youngsters Kai Fässler and Maximilian Egger will continue to play for EC Bregenzerwald 2018/19 as well. Fässler has already played 41 Alps Hockey League-games for the „Wälder“ between 2016 and 2018, in which the 19-year old forward scored two Assists.
Egger will go into his second season with the Vorarlberger. The 20-year old Austrian played 38 games for the "Wälder" last season, scoring three points (1G/2A). Prior, Egger has already defended for the Red Bull Hockey Juniors in the Alps Hockey League.
The Italians Thomas Erlacher and Max Oberrauch will go for goals and points for HC Pustertal Wolves in the upcoming season as well. 34-year old Oberrauch has been a key-player in the team during the last years, he had 40 points (20G/20A, Plus-Minus: +25!) out of 44 games last season. The Power-Forward is known as a hard working winger with a strong physical game.
Erlacher will start into his ninth consecutive season with the wolves from Bruneck. The 29-year old forward had three points out 15 Alps Hockey League-games 2017/18.
Simone Asinelli will go for goals and points for Hockey Milano Rossoblu 2018/19 as well. The 19-year old forward played 34 games for Milano in Italians Series 2 last season, scoring five points. Besides, he played for the U19-team of Milano 2017/18 as well. Asinelli spent his youth in Lugano in Switzerland (2010 – 2015) and he has experience from playing overseas (Ontario Hockey Academy) 2015/16 too.
Picture: EK Die Zeller Eisbären