By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
Boston Bruins sixth-round pick Loke Johansson is coming to North America. The Stockholm, Sweden native has signed with the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Having been selected in the first round, 37th overall in the annual Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, Johansson becomes the latest Bruins Prospect to make the transition from Europe to the CHL.
The 6′-3″, 214-pound left-shooting defenseman is coming off a strong season with his hometown team, AIK, splitting time between their J20 and Pro teams. Johansson registered 13 points in 33 games with the J20 squad and one assist in 19 games in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second tier of Swedish Pro Hockey.
Johansson joins a Moncton team that finished second in the QMJHL’s Maritimes Division last season, only to see their playoffs abruptly ended by a first-round sweep at the hands of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Looking ahead to the coming season, Moncton’s brass believes Johansson can help their team take the next step.
“We are extremely excited to have Loke in Moncton this season,” said Wildcat General Manager Taylor MacDougall. “He has all the attributes and pedigree of premier, shut-down defensemen at the Major Junior level. He is an individual who oozes character, and we look forward to helping his development prior to beginning his pro career with the Boston Bruins organization,” he added. “He plays a hard-nosed two-way game, has great mobility, and will be hard to play against in all three zones,” said Head Coach Gardiner MacDougall.
Johansson is a strong skater and a physical defender, which should serve him well as he transitions from Europe to life in the CHL. Prior to then, Bruins fans will likely get an initial look at him in the upcoming Prospects Challenge scheduled for mid-September at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo, New York (a link to the full schedule can be found here).
With the Bruins facing off against Prospects from the Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, and Pittsburgh Penguins, Johansson will get his first opportunity to show his abilities against top-level talent on the smaller ice surface of the National Hockey League. Hopefully, for the Bruins, this tournament will mark the first step forward in his path to the NHL.
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