Press Release
One month into the season, the Kenai River Brow Bears, proud members
of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), announce that rookie forward
Albin Karlsson has committed to play college hockey at NCAA Division I Niagara University in the fall of 2014.
It didn’t take long for Karlsson, an 18-year-old forward from
Uppsala, Sweden, to be noticed by scouts this early into the season. On
September 13th at the NAHL Showcase, Karlsson skated in his first ever
game in the United States against the Johnstown Tomahawks. After scoring
two goals, Niagara University, among other NCAA DI teams had their eye
on the young Swede.
“Niagara was interested from the start,” said Brown Bears Head Coach
Oliver David. “We stayed down in the lower 48 states to conclude the
road trip with a weekend in Springfield and the following weekend in
Janesville, where Niagara again came to watch Karlsson play. They really
liked what they saw.” Karlsson, the first ever Brown Bear to receive a
full four-year scholarship to an NCAA DI school, will start with the
Niagara University Purple Eagles in the fall of 2014.
Karlsson made his way to the United States to play juniors with the
assistance of Scandinavian Hockey Consulting (SHC). SHC has had a great
relationship with Kenai River over the past few years placing Mathias
Dahlstrom, Erik Persson, Johan Skinnars and now Albin Karlsson with the
NAHL team. Karlsson also gives much gratitude to SHC and the Brown Bears
for giving him the opportunity to play in the league. Coming over for a
once in a lifetime experience to play hockey state side, his dream
turned into reality after acquiring the full scholarship within the
first month.
In the short amount of time that Karlsson has been with the Brown
Bears, Coach David speaks volumes about the dynamic skilled forward. “He
has contributed offensively to our team from day one. He is a threat
each and every time he has the puck and his skating ability is second to
none. Albin is very smart and his hockey knowledge is well above
average, so it was no surprise that somebody was able to see that early
on. The type of play here is 180 degrees different from what he is used
to in Sweden. That shows how quickly he can pick things up.”
Coach David speaks the same about how Karlsson will impact Niagara
University when he suits up for them in two seasons. “He undoubtedly
will be able to play with anyone. He is an intellectual type of person
and can adapt quickly. His strongest attribute is his mind and how he is
able to figure out what needs to be done and how it needs to be done.
When he joins Niagara, I believe that he will be capable of contributing
offensively right away.”
Over the next two years, Karlsson said his goal is to become a more
physical player while adapting to the faster style of play in the
states. As for his early and unexpected plan to commit to a University
Karlsson said, “I am honored that Niagara selected me.”
(Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)
Sunday, October 7, 2012
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