Anton Karlsson has been confirmed as the latest recruit for Fife Flyers and he is a former third round draft pick, 87th overall, inn 2014 for the Phoenix Coyotes.
The talented player is described in the online resource, Elite Prospects, as a physical forward and workhorse and Karlsson is a former team mate of current Flyers, Johan Porsberger.
The 29-year-old Swede has played at all levels of ice hockey in his native country and iced in top leagues across Europe.
Jamie Russell, Fife’s head coach, said: “Anton will add skill, scoring and experience to our lineup. He has good size and plays a smart game.”
The 6ft 2in tall newcomer is set to be in Fife’s squad when they entertain Glasgow Clan at The Fife Ice Arena tonight (7pm), however their latest acquisition, David Booth, will not be involved.
The former National Hockey League (NHL) player, and a father of four, is tidying up his domestic situation back in Montana after having a spell in Australia and is not likely to be in Fife for another ten days.
The acquisition of Karlsson is a bonus as Russell’s men continue to suffer. The head coach revealed it had been a tough week in practice with the club down “a lot of players” because guys are, his words, “banged up”.
Four players are on the injured list, American defenceman Jeremy Masella is out for an estimated six weeks, Czechia-born winger Vlastimil Dostalek for up to three, and British forward, Mason Alderson, will not dress this weekend.
Of course, Canadian forward Justin Ducharme is long term and the projection is that he will not see ice time until December.
That’s why this unnamed player is jetting in and Russell is set to hand the newcomer his home debut.
Another plus. The head coach remains optimistic that key defenceman Jonas Emmerdahl will return to the squad this weekend after injury.
Glasgow Clan arrive at Kirkcaldy after going down 3-2 after overtime to Guildford Flames at Braehead on Friday, Charlie Curti netting 1min 15sec into the extra session, but Russell does not feel that will be a factor given that all teams play back-to-back games.
The West of Scotland club remain in fifth position in the ten-strong table with 14 points from 11 starts, having scored 25 goals and conceded 28.
This clash has built into an intense rivalry and Russell does not believe that his side have shown their best against Clan so far this term.
Cardiff visit Manchester Storm tonight before hosting Flyers on Sunday. They are third in the table and are the second top scorers in the division with 42 hitting the opposition rigging in 12 starts. They have only conceded 24 goals.
There is a small matter of a long bus ride to the Principality but Russell said: “It is what it is. We have long bus rides most weekends in this league.”
Overall, the coach said: “David (Booth) is 40 years old, but he is a quality player who has not just dipped his toe in the NHL, he has played more than 500 games there and he looks after himself. When he arrives he will be ready to go.”
Reflecting on last Sunday, Russell said that his men were right in the game against Devils with the clock at 37 minutes and the scoreline at 3-2 when three men were injured, two suffering fractures and they ended up in the emergency room. Fife eventually lost 8-2.
The Canadian playcaller said: “It is one step forward and two back right now, but the newcomer will, we hope, travel today (Friday) and be in the line-up (on Saturday). He is a forward and he is from Sweden and he is an experienced player.”
Russell admitted that Fife definitely need extra firepower to help them in their quest to move off the bottom and up the table. They have one point from 12 games having scored 14 goals and let in 54, 13 more than seventh-placed Guildford.
