For Otso Rantakar, HIFK is a familiar club.
Otso Rantakari started last fall in Tappara, from where he moved to Switzerland for the rest of the season. Tomi Natri / All Over Press
Helsinki IFK announced on their website about the new defender acquisition. Take Rantakari moves from the Swiss HC Fribourg-Gottéron on a contract for next season.
Rantakari played only 24 matches in the whole season due to injuries.
– We have been following Otso’s quotes for a long time. He made a return to the rink after a long injury last season, and has now been able to train properly for a longer time. We believe that his strengths will bring an excellent addition to our team, says HIFK’s sports director Tobias Salmelainen in the bulletin.
Rantakari has previously represented Blues and Tappara in the League, but he has experience with HIFK as a junior. He is looking forward to the season in his old hometown.
– I always hated these encounters when we visited here with Blues or Tappara. There are familiar players in the team and the custodian is also familiar from B-juniors.
Rantakari won the League’s rookie point exchange in the 2014–2015 season and was chosen as rookie of the year. In the spring of 2018, Rantakari won the point exchange for the defenders’ playoffs.