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Spotlight: Lukas Svejkovsky – ”All My Expectations Have Been Exceeded”

Henri Havusela

This guy is talented. That surely sums up what Ilves fans think of Lukas Svejkovsky. The 22-year-old American forward, who was signed by Ilves last Monday, quickly became the talk of the town in just his first week. Svejkovsky wasted no time making an impact, scoring two goals in his debut game against rival team Tappara and following that up the very next day with a 1+1 performance in a victory over JYP. It’s been a whirlwind start for the young player in an entirely new environment, but let’s hear from “Svej” himself about his start in Tampere.

Lukas Svejkovsky immediately comes across as a polite and well-mannered young man. As he shares how his first week has gone, he also asks the interviewer how his day has been before happily sharing his own experiences. It’s clear that “Svej” has been on quite a ride over the past few weeks. His life took a turn when Ilves announced his 1+1-year contract just last week, culminating in a local derby against Tappara on Friday. In that game, Svej exploded onto the scene with two goals and an impressive overall performance, all while adapting to a new league and culture.

Kuva: Jooel Hilden

– It’s been a big change for sure, but I’ve loved every moment here. Everything has gone well, and everyone has treated me incredibly, which has made it easy for me and my girlfriend to settle in. I’ll never forget that first game against Tappara. It was an important win for the team, and playing at Nokia Arena in front of the fans was special, Svej says.

He moved to Tampere from Vancouver, which is 10 hours behind Finland in terms of time zones. Considering that, his performance was even more impressive, especially as he followed up the derby with another excellent game as Ilves secured a 5–2 victory over JYP. Svej, who eagerly seeks scoring opportunities, has already tallied 3+1 in his first two games, with 11 shots on goal.

– It feels great to help the team win right away using my strengths. Hopefully, I can keep this up, he says with a laugh, before delving deeper into his first days in Finland.

– The first few days were challenging because of the time difference, and it took a while to adjust to the rhythm. But now I feel full of energy, and it’s a great feeling. I’ve been helped a lot by our amazing coaching staff and my teammates, who’ve welcomed me so warmly and helped me with everything. Honestly, I can say that all my expectations have been exceeded during my days here.

Kuva: Timo Koistinen

A Fresh Start

After several great years in the Canadian junior league WHL, Svej is now in his third year as a professional.

He details how his transfer to Ilves came about. After starting the season in the AHL, Tampa Bay Lightning placed him on waivers, leading to his contract being terminated.

– At that point, I was home, waiting to see what would happen next. My agent offered a couple options, and Ilves stood out as an exciting opportunity. I heard a lot of good things about the coaching staff and the organization. After speaking with the Sports Manager (Timo Koskela) on the phone for about 15 minutes, I was convinced this was the place for me.

Svej openly admits that the beginning of his professional career in North America didn’t meet his expectations after his successful junior years. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020 and signed an entry-level contract with the team two years later. Over the next two seasons, he played in both the AHL and ECHL. Last summer, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

– Those were tough years for me because I don’t think I reached my potential. I set the bar high for myself, so there were moments of frustration. I see this move to Ilves and Finland as a fresh start and a chance to turn the page. I’m excited to get things rolling here.

Despite the challenges, there were also positives. Last season, Svej played a major role with the ECHL team Wheeling Nailers, scoring 37 points in 30 games.

– Playing there gave me a lot of confidence because I got to play big minutes. It helped me develop as a player.

Kuva: Jimi Soinila

“It’s in my blood”

Svej is American, born in California, but his father, Jaroslav Švejkovský, is a Czech who moved to the United States in the 1990s to pursue hockey. Jaroslav was drafted in the first round by the Washington Capitals and played five NHL seasons.

After his playing career, Jaroslav transitioned to coaching and is currently an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks, working under head coach Rick Tocchet and alongside Adam Foote.

Other members of the Svejkovsky family are also active in hockey. Lukas’s sister, Ava, plays in a women’s college league, and his younger brother is also involved in the sport.

Svej says he never had to think twice about his career choice.

– From the beginning, I wanted to be a professional hockey player. It’s in my blood. My dad played professionally, and I grew up going to games. I got my first skates when I was 2 or 3 years old and slept in them the first night I had them.

Kuva: Timo Koistinen

His father has played a significant role in helping him achieve his dreams.

– He was my coach until I was about 14. He has a great hockey mind and has helped me tremendously. He’s busy with the Canucks now, so he couldn’t watch my first games live, but he watched them later. I don’t think he’s missed many of my games throughout my career, Svej says.

Before turning pro, Svej spent six seasons in the WHL, a major Canadian junior league, playing 196 games and recording 162 points. In the spring of 2022, his team, the Seattle Thunderbirds, reached the WHL finals, where Svej scored 28 points in 24 playoff games.

– Unfortunately, we didn’t win the championship, but we had an amazing team that year. Overall, those WHL years helped me develop a lot and prepare for professional hockey.

In Seattle, Svej played alongside Matt Rempe, now with the New York Rangers and known for his physical play and frequent fights during his rookie NHL season.

– He’s an amazing teammate. The kind of guy you want on your team but wouldn’t want to play against. He plays tough and is a great team player, Svej describes.

Kuva: Timo Koistinen

”I Gained a Lot of Confidence”

As a young and skilled player, Svejkovsky’s career is full of potential, but for now, he’s focused on the present.

– I’m taking things day by day. Of course, every young player dreams of playing in the NHL someday, but my current goal is to win a championship with Ilves. That’s the only thing on my mind during this season.

Based on his first two games, Svej’s skating, and skills with puck seem like a perfect fit for the Finnish league.

– Yeah, I think my playing style suits this league well. It’s a high-level league, and our coaches have done a great job of helping me adjust to what’s expected here.

This week, Ilves has only one game, an away match in Mikkeli on Saturday.

– I’m really looking forward to the next games, especially now that I’ll get some good practice days.

He’s also taking the time to explore Tampere.

– The city seems amazing and quite different from what I’m used to back home. I think my time here is going to be incredible.

Having already won over the fans at Nokia Arena with his play, Svej has also felt the warm welcoming from the Ilves fans.

– It was an unbelievable feeling, and I haven’t played in a home arena like this before, where the fans react like that. I gained a lot of confidence from those first games. I need to work hard and improve every night, he says.

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