EHC Biel inks Finnish defender Ville Pokka to a one-year deal

With the signing of Ville Pokka to a one-year contract, EHC Biel has now three import defenders under contract for the upcoming season. However, Viktor Lööv sustained an injury in his last game of the past season and will be sidelined for quite some time.

EHCB's team manager Martin Steinegger describes Pokka as a player with good defensive and playmaking abilities: "Ville Pokka defends fiercely in his own third in both 5vs5 and penalty killing. He sees the open ice and opens up the game with smart and safe passes from his own zone."

Pokka spent his first pro years in Finland with Kärpät. Then, he suited up for four seasons in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs and the Belleville Senators. After that, he returned to Europe in 2018 to play in the KHL with Avangard Omsk, and in 2022 he joined Färjestad BK.

With the Swedish club, Pokka scored four goals and collected 18 assists in 49 games. Moreover, with the Finnish national team, he won an Olympic gold medal and the World Championship in 2022.

( 08 June 2023 | lle )