Ritola (photo) joined the Dragons from Skellefteå AIK last summer and would have had a valid contract until the end of the 2017-18 season. In a total of 27 games for HCFG ever since, the 29-year-old forward managed to put up four goals and 13 assists.
The forward had denied rumors about him leaving the Dragons in direction of Leksand IF at the end of December. Circumstances are now different: Swedish newspaper Dala-Demokraten reports that Ritola has a verbal agreement with the SHL team and will sign a contract with them next week. As Krister Sik confirms to LIFTV (relayed by hockeyverige.se), they are in contact with the Swede, but will have to get their finances in order to be able to sign him.
In order to replace the Swede in their lineup, HC Fribourg-Gottéron has signed American forward Ryan Vesce for the remainder of the season. The 34-year-old most recently played for KHL's Traktor Chelyabinsk as well as HC Lugano at the Spengler Cup (one goal, one assist).
Last Update: 18 January 2017, 02:17 PM | rlu
