By CHAT News Today

VIDEO: Swedish defenceman Linus Nassen practices with Tigers for first time

Sep 20, 2017 | 4:34 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — With two day to go before the Medicine Hat Tigers open the regular season, a player not yet seen in black and orange has arrived.

Linus Nassen, drafted in the second round of this year’s WHL Import Draft, took to the ice at the Canalta Centre for the first time this afternoon.

“It feels really good to be here finally, after flying over here yesterday,” the Swedish defenceman said during media availability on Wednesday. “I’ve been awake for 25, 26 hours, but I’m here and ready for practice.”

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Nassen, who was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the third round of the 2016 NHL Draft, spent time in two leagues last season. He scored 16 points in 25 games with Lulea HF in the Swedish Super Elite League. He also played 21 games in the SHL, the top pro league in Sweden.

Head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston said it was long process to find out if Nassen would make the trip over to North America, as he still had one-year on his professional contract in Sweden.

“It’s just been a process to get him to the point, and everybody involved was willing to make it work, and now he’s here,” he said.

Nassen is hoping he will have the same success in North America.

“I’m going to play my game, my fancy game,” he said. “I’m a two-way defenceman, so I’m going to try and carry the puck, (make) a good first pass, and help the team to win.”

Nassen’s arrival in Medicine Hat now gives the Tigers three import players in addition to Mick Kohler, who signed with the team earlier this month, and Kristians Rubins, returning from last season, but is currently recovering from a shoulder injury.

The team still have five overage players on the roster, including Rubins.

The team has to trim down their roster to three overage players by October 10th and will have to decide which import player to let go by October 17th.

Clouston says he will evaluate both Rubins and Nassen once Rubins returns from his injury.