Familiar from Leijonat, Topi Niemelä, 24, continues his career in Sweden. Björkloven, which will rise to the SHL next season, announced on Saturday that they have signed the Finnish defenseman to a contract covering next season.

– Thanks to his good movement and high baseline level, he already has many attributes ready – and now that he also has an SHL season behind him, we believe that Topi can take further steps in his development and take on an important role in our team next season, commented Björkloven’s sports director Per Kenttä in the club’s statement.

The right-shooting defenseman played this season with the SHL’s Malmö Redhawks, where he collected 4 goals and 18 assists in 52 games.

Björkloven expects Niemelä to be a skating-powerful and puck-secure defenseman, who is envisioned to have a big role on the back lines of the promoted team.

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