American forward Austin Ortega recently signed a two-year contract with Växsjö Lakers of the SHL.
The 24-year-old Escondido, CA native spent three years in the USHL, playing for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, the Indiana Ice, and the Fargo Force, before deciding to play college hockey at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Afters four years in the NCAA, Ortega ended the 2016-17 season with the San Diego Gulls, AHL affiliate to the Anaheim Ducks.
This past season, Ortega played 29 games for the Gulls, recording three goals and 13 assists, before being sent to the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL, where he also played 29 games. There, he recorded 17 goals and 28 assists, a total of 45 points.
We’re happy to welcome Djurgården IF defenseman and Philadelphia Flyers prospect, David Bernhardt, to the family!
The 6-foot-3-inch 20 year-old has been playing in the Djurgården organization since 2012, from U16 Div. 1 to J18 Allsvenskan to the SHL. In 2016, Bernhardt was drafted 199th overall to the Flyers, and the following year he represented Sweden in the World Junior Championship in Montreal-Toronto.
”Bernhardt is a puck-moving blue liner,” wrote Travis Hughes of SBN. ”He uses his great vision and hard, accurate passes to nd his teammates on the ice. He is very creative with his passes, both short-ranged passes as well as long-ranged dishes from his defensive zone to streaking forwards. He has solid puck skills while also being able to protect the puck with his balance, strength and size.”
This past season, Bernhardt recorded one goal and 11 assists in 51 games played.
Emil Larsson, our newest family member, has recently signed a 2-year contract extension with Luleå Hockey of the SHL.
This year was the 24-year-old forward’s first time playing in the SHL since the 2013-2014 season, when he was on loan to Brynäs IF from Almtuna IS of Allsvenskan. Larsson racked up 32 points in 49 games played this season, recording 23 goals and nine assists.
