Växjö Lakers HC play their first game in the Elitserien today, visiting Göteborg to face last year's ninth-place finishers Frölunda HC. The Lakers have spent the summer rebranding for their debut in the Swedish big league. The red, blue and yellow uniform that has served them up till now has been replaced with blue and orange, an unusual colour scheme for the Elitserien, and one that conjures Oilers and Islanders in the mind of the North American observer, for better or worse. The crest features a crossbow-wielding lion rampant, as if the club had actually been in the league since 1415. The combination of Seventies colour palette and medieval iconography somehow adds up to a pleasingly Scandinavian design. Go marketers! And the old uniform will show up as a vintage jersey in a few years anyway.
Their roster includes four Canadians: Mike Iggulden, Brad Moran, Liam Reddox and Josh Soares. Senators fans will recognize goalie Martin Gerber.
In the preseason Växjö beat Rögle, Skellefteå, Malmö (twice), Espoo Blues, Ässät, and Brynäs.
Hammarby IF is gone but its fans are not, and they've started a new team, Bajen Fans IF. Read about it here.
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