Luke Witkowski Joins Brynäs IF
Luke Witkowski, a seasoned defenseman and forward from the United States, recently inked a contract to join Brynäs IF for the remainder of the ongoing season, as reported by the Gävle-based SHL team on Thursday. At 35 years old, this marks Witkowski’s second stint with a Swedish club within a year and his third consecutive season competing in Europe.
Witkowski’s Statement
“I’m very grateful to have another opportunity to play in the SHL. I had a very good time here last season so I’m happy to come back… I believe that we have every chance to be a winning team and that is something I want to be a part of,”
Witkowski expressed his gratitude for the chance to return to the SHL, reflecting on his positive experience in the previous season and his aspirations for a successful campaign with Brynäs.
Brynäs IF’s Current Season
Currently, Brynäs IF has had a challenging start to the season, accumulating 20 points from 19 games, placing them 11th out of 14 teams in the SHL. Despite their shaky performance, they boast a roster filled with notable players, including several former NHL talents like Nicklas Bäckström, Jakob Silfverberg, and Oskar Lindblom. The team previously finished at the top of the regular season last year but fell short in the finals, a testament to the potential within the squad.
Director of Sports Comments
“Luke is a big physical defenseman, and his strengths lie in his defensive game – that, in combination with his character and experience, will be a good addition to our back end,”
Brynäs director of sports, Johan Alcén, weighed in on Witkowski’s signing, highlighting his physicality, defensive capabilities, and rich experience as valuable assets for the team.
Witkowski’s Career Overview
Witkowski, originally from Holland, Michigan, initially entered the NHL landscape after being selected in the sixth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Over his NHL tenure, which spanned from 2014 to 2022, he played 132 regular-season games with the Lightning and the Detroit Red Wings, contributing two goals, 11 assists, and accumulating a total of 162 penalty minutes.
His most recent foray into European hockey began last season as he played with Tappara Tampere in Finland, where he achieved six assists and 88 penalty minutes in 52 matches while helping the team to capture its third consecutive Liiga title. Last year, Witkowski also had a stint with Skellefteå in the SHL, posting four points amid 36 games during the regular season and playoffs.
With Witkowski now back in the SHL, fans and analysts alike will be keen to see how he influences Brynäs’s aspirations this season, especially as they seek to improve on their early performance.
