Kim Strömberg wanted a Mestis contract and was allowed to play in the historic match right away.
Kim Strömberg unexpectedly chose Kiekko-Espoo. Matti Matikainen
In honor of the opening day of the Mestis season, Kiekko-Espoo dropped some surprising news. Kim Strömberg, who scored power points in the SM League, joined the ranks of the dominant Mestis club and was part of Thursday’s lineup.
The con artist, who turns 36 in December, could have chosen differently. The best season of his career was seen in the 2019–2020 season ended by the crown, when in KooKoo he reached 50 points in the main series for the first time (23+27, 59 matches)
After that one season in Sweden and back to Kouvola.
In the 2021–2022 season in KooKoo, he was once again unstoppable, when he produced impressive performances of 11+26 in 57 games.
With 16 playoff games on top of 5+10, it was no wonder that interest gathered again from abroad. Strömberg decided to try something new for the next season and chose Kometa Brno, which plays in the Czech main league.
There, the number of power points dropped significantly. In 45 games of the regular season, he caught 10+4. The season was not the rosiest for the man, although it continued to the second round of the playoffs.
– It was up and down. A difficult season as a whole, which ultimately turned positive, the forward describes.
However, there was no continuation in Brno or in the series. The man admits that continuing abroad was on his mind.
Strömberg weighed his options and finally chose Kiekko-Espo. In his debut, the striker, who trained with the club for two weeks, faced the breeding club Jokerit, who, accompanied by great attention, made his return to the Finnish fields. This time, the Jokerit tore Espoo to a 3–2 overtime victory.
Strömberg, who started in the second chain, could not open his points account yet. Performance cannot remain at zero for a long time, because playing in the SM league is still interesting. His contract has an option to move to the main league, so the man’s visit to Espoo may be short.
– Here we go one day and one week at a time. I’m now Espoo’s men and we’ll see, Strömberg replies and says that his agent keeps his connections with Liiga intact.
– I’m aiming to come back here (to the Metro Arena) tomorrow. Let’s take it easy.
Kiekko-Espoo will play against Tuto on Saturday.
From Jukurs to Jokers
Saku Forsblom’s career has changed wildly in six months. Matti Matikainen
The Helsinki Jokerit left the dressing room accompanied by the joyous shouts of thousands of supporters. Team captain Saku Forsblom says that neither he nor anyone else had to wake up a teammate for the match, where a new chapter was written in the history of the Jokers.
– Everyone who loves this sport will get fired up with that mecca. In the end, it’s normal hockey, and there was no need to go on the ice to squeeze, commented the captain after the game.
In addition to Strömberg, Forsblom was also in a new place. He played last season in the breeding club Mikkelin Jukurei and stayed Olli Jokinen in the tribe for little responsibility and to replace injured players.
Although the transfer from the SM league to Mesti is a step backwards for his career, Forsblom’s story is about a wonderful turnaround. Now, instead of the position of a reserve player, he is the carrier of the letter C of the Jokers, which is gathering a lot of interest.
– The last two years were quite difficult. There were challenges, injuries. It is now a life left behind. Now I’ve got a new career opportunity, says Forsblom.
The 25-year-old defender played 57 League games in three years. Last season he played 19 games and spent parts of the season on loan at Peliitoi and RoK.
Joker’s season continues in Kerava on Friday against KooVee.
The Joker is officially back. Matti Matikainen