A couple of CHL teams made some additions to their rosters on Thursday. The Växjö Lakers have the future in mind with the signing of young forward Robin Söderquist and Kölner Haie is thinking more in the present with goaltender Sebastian Stefaniszin.

by Derek O'Brien

The Växjo Lakers have signed 19-year-old forward Robin Söderquist away from Frölunda Gothenberg. Söderquist was the captain of the Frölunda U20 team last year, recording 46 points in 41 games in Sweden's top junior league. He also had an assist in five SHL games.

"We have a situation where we lack young players from some age groups in our organisation and therefore we are constantly filling it with players of those ages. We think Robin Söderquist is a player who is far too good to be without a contract," said Lakers sports director Henrik Evertsson.

The contract is for two years, but Växjö will probably loan him out the first year. Clearly, they see him as a long-term project.

"This is a guy who is a smart two-way centre and can also produce offensively," Evertsson continued. "If he can bring that into pro hockey, and with the right training and development there is every possibility for that, we will have a very good player. He is a really great character and really want this."

Meanwhile, German club Kölner Haie has added to its depth in goal by signing 26-year-old Sebastian Stefaniszin away from the EBEL's Graz 99ers.

Stefaniszin was born in Berlin and is a product of the Eisbären system. He's previously played in the DEL with Eisbären, the Iserlohn Roosters and Nürnberg Ice Tigers before heading to the Austrian circuit to play for the Vienna Capitals and finally Graz. Last season he had a 2.94 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in 14 EBEL contests.