Ryan Lasch of the Frölunda Indians is the Champions Hockey League’s all-time leader in goals (18), assists (39) and points (57). So far this season, he’s tied for second in scoring with 10 points, all assists. He was held off the scoresheet in the first game of Frölunda’s Round of 16 match-up against HC Lugano, but overall, Lasch is happy with the way things went on the road.
“Lugano are a great team and usually a top team in Switzerland, so for us to go there and leave tied 1-1 is a good result,” he said. Looking ahead to the return game at home, he added: “We know that we can play better and we are excited for Tuesday. It’s going to be a great and tough game.”
"Frölunda pride themselves on development of younger guys... Dahlin, Lehkonen, Johnsson - we like to cheer for their success and follow them closely."Ryan Lasch on the talent that's come through Frölunda's academy and gone on to the NHL
Since the game in Lugano and the subsequent international break, the Indians have lost once in regulation time and won in a shootout, and are now tied for first place in the SHL with 33 points. Lasch is tied for third in league scoring with 18 points in 18 games.
“The season is going well for us and we are happy with the start,” Lasch said. “We are in a great spot in the CHL and we are sitting in a top spot in our league.”
Along with Lasch, Frölunda’s lineup includes familiar names like Joel Lundqvist, Simon Hjalmarsson and Mats Rosseli Olsen but they always seem to have a young player who is worth watching. Some of those players who have contributed to the team’s CHL victories in the past are now in the NHL, and the people in the organization continue to follow their careers.
“Frölunda pride themselves on the development of their younger guys and there are many who are doing well at the next level,” Lasch explained. “Guys like Rasmus Dahlin, Arrturi Lehkonen, Andreas Johnsson are products of that development and we like to cheer for their success and follow closely.”
This year, another youngster is grabbing some attention and it’s 18-year-old Samuel Fagemo, who has 5 points (2+3) in five CHL games and 8 points (4+4).
“Samuel is a great player for us. He’s really developing his game and he’s going to continue to get better. He is a strong skater that is able to create a lot from his speed and can score goals.”
The players seem confident that they can advance far in this year’s CHL and erase the memories of last year’s Round of 16, when Frölunda came home with a one-goal lead over Bílí Tygři Liberec but ended up losing the game by a goal to tie the aggregate score, and then lost in overtime.
“We’ve put that game way behind us,” Lasch said confidently. “This is a new team and we only look forward.”