International transfers continues all summer as players change clubs and get ready for the new season ahead. This week we take a look at some more big transfers from across Europe.
Danish duo head to Malmö
Despite only being 19 years of age Sille Larsen is already one of the most significant players in Danish Women’s floorball. With 2 U19 World Championships and a senior Women’s WFC under her belt, Larsen is already super experienced at such a young age. Her talent is undeniable with 4 points in 7 games as a defender at the Women’s WFC helping Denmark to one of their highest ever finishes at a Women’s WFC in history. Alongside the senior national team Larsen was also captain and a lynchpin for a Danish side with 7 points in 5 games, alongside her ability in defense to stop opposition attacks. After several seasons at Frederikshavn Blackhawks and multiple Danish championships, comes a new big step forward for Larsen with a role in SSL side Malmö FBC. With a spot with a team playing in one of the strongest leagues in Floorball, Larsen will have a chance to prove her talent on one of the biggest stages. Another Dane heading to Malmö is Axel Rasmussen who returns to the Men’s SSL club after a year away at Vanløse in the Danish top division. Rasmussen has been one of the main stars of the Danish national team in recent times, with a standout performance at the 2022 WFC in Switzerland. He has grown up in the Malmö FBC academy going through their youth categories all the way to the senior Men’s team in the Swedish 2nd and 3rd divisions, with 2 seasons at Höllvikens IBF where he gained his first taste of SSL action. With sister Ellen Rasmussen also a part of the Malmö FBC (although Ellen represents Sweden on the international stage), Axel “returns home” to Malmö where he will also be a part of the Danish national team as the 2024 World Floorball Championships take place this December in Malmö.
From Vitkovice to Kalmarsund for Czech national team players
More Czechs are on the move with two extremely talented national team players heading from premier Czech side Vitkovice to SSL team Kalmarsund. Kalmarsund have already looked to strengthen their squad after a 1st round playoff sweep against eventual champions Thorengruppen. New signings Ellen Westberg, Maja Helman and Rikke Ingebrigtsli Hansen will be new teammates for Sarka Stankova and Michaela Kubeckova. Stankova and Kubeckova have been key players in the dominant performances of SC. Vitkovice in recent seasons in the top division of Czech Women’s Floorball. Both have helped Vitkovice with back to back Women’s Playoff titles in the last 2 years. With the recent success and great play on display by both it wasn’t long before SSL teams came calling and new opportunities for both on the coastal town of Kalmar, in Sweden. Both Stankova and Kubeckova were also part of the Czech Women’s national team that achieved last December in Singapore only their 2nd ever medal at a Women’s World Floorball Championships, by winning bronze against Switzerland. With both players only being 22 years of age, it seems that their progression and growth will only continue to strengthen, and they hope with a fresh start and new system their skills will only grow even faster.
Wizards acquire Finnish talent
Wizards Bern Burgdorf are looking for further talent to help their push further up the Swiss Women’s L-UPL table and deeper into the playoffs. Wizards are known as one of the premier teams for bringing through and playing promising young, female, Swiss talent and that ethos has not changed. However with some departures again over the summer some experience may be needed to help out the younger players in the team this upcoming season. This is something the management at Wizards have thought about and addressed by signing 2 players from Finland with several years of playing experience each. Ina Leminen is a big name making the move down south as she transfers from Finnish Champions TPS where Leminen won the last championships with them. Before her time at TPS Leminen also won another 3 Finnish championships with previous team SB-Pro Nurmijarvi. A player with championship winning mentality and experience is exactly what Wizards need to help their young, blossoming squad towards the ultimate goal of a championship title. The other Finn joining Leminen in Bern is Katriina Louna from F-Liiga side O2-Jyvaskyla, where in the previous season she achieved 20 points in 22 games for a team that struggled against some of the other sides in the top flight of Women’s Finnish Floorball. After several years at O2-Jyvaskyla, the 25-year-old Finn scored 79 points in 77 games for O2-Jyvaskyla in both the F-Liiga and Divari (2nd Division) and again will bring a mix of experience and talent to Wizards to help them out even further this upcoming season.
Japanese star heads back home
Whilst Japan didn’t achieve their goal of qualifying for the 2024 Men’s WFC this December in Malmö, they certainly had some impressive moments and strong performances in qualification. Of the 4 games in qualifications they only lost once to Australia and despite drawing with Singapore, narrowly lost out to them in the standings thanks to a slightly inferior goal difference, meaning a 5th place matchup against Korea and no longer a chance to qualify for Malmö. Several players stood out for Team Japan including Shin Kato, who was one of only 3 players on the team to be playing in Europe at the team, with Austrian side VSV Unihockey. However he now heads back home and to the powerhouse of Japanese Floorball in Tokyo Floorball Club, who have always been at or near the top of the standings in the Japanese Floorball league for several seasons. Kato scored 5 points in 4 games for Japan at the qualifications and was super dangerous on the Powerplay, something his new club in Tokyo will be looking to having themselves for sure.
Latvian forward looking for new beginnings in Switzerland
Young, Latvian defender Gustavs Griezitis heads to Switzerland and to Men’s 2nd division side Kloten-Dietlikon Jets from FBC Turku in Finland. Griezitis despite just turning 20 years of age has already proven his talents by breaking into the Latvian men’s team after two successful WFC tournaments with the U19 team. He also this past season helped FBC Turku survive in the F-Liiga during their play down series against M-Team. Griezitis will be hoping to further prove himself by helping his new side get promoted back into the highest division of Swiss Men’s floorball and follow in the footsteps of their very successful Women’s team. Keep an eye out for Griezitis also at the Men’s WFC in Malmö this December where he will also be a part (based on current squad predications) of Team Latvia.
The last transfers article for this season will be next week before the new league seasons across Europe begin! You can see the full list of confirmed transfers so far here:
