HIFK made a double acquisition – a forward who has played in the NHL
HIFK strengthens its Liiga team with two players arriving from Sweden. Finnish forward Sampo Ranta has signed a contract for the remainder of the season, and Swedish goalkeeper Olof Glifford will join the team on a one-month loan.
HIFK announces the acquisitions in its press release. Glifford, 21, arrives from HV71 to alleviate the difficult goaltending situation for the Helsinki team.
Glifford, who was drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2023, has played 18 SHL games and 29 games in Sweden’s second-highest league, Allsvenskan.
– He is a young and promising goalkeeper. We are very pleased to have him on board, and he will definitely help in this situation, goaltending coach Riku Helenius commented in a press release.
Ranta, on the other hand, arrived in Helsinki on Tuesday after leaving Örebro. The 26-year-old forward, who has played the last three seasons in Sweden, has recorded 31+33 points in 127 SHL games.
– Sampo brings speed, character, and extensive experience from North America to the team, sports director Janne Laukkanen describes.
The Colorado Avalanche drafted Ranta in the third round in 2018. He has played 16 games in the NHL and 122 AHL games with Colorado’s farm team, the Eagles, with stats of 23+22.
– Sampo’s strengths are skating, physicality, and athleticism. He also has a lot of goal-scoring potential. Sampo brings competition for positions and a role model of perseverance through his experience, Laukkanen adds.
HIFK is currently in 14th place in Liiga after playing 11 games. The next match is on Wednesday, October 14, when TPS will visit Helsinki.
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