Manchester Storm are thrilled to announce the signing of blueliner Kevin Ekman-Larsson, most recently of Karlskrona HK (HockeyEttan). 

The 27-year-old defencemen joins the Storm with an impressive career to date and hails from a strong hockey family – with current NHLer: Oliver Ekman-Larsson his elder brother. 

Ekman Larsson developed his craft at home – in Sweden – representing Tingsryds AIF and Leksands IF through his junior career. By 2013-14, Ekman Larsson was skating for Tingsryds AIF (HockeyEttan) in the professional game. The defender stayed at his boyhood club until the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

A string of impressive performances, in the Allsvenskan, saw Ekman-Larsson initially offered a one-year AHL deal with Tucson Roadrunners – which would be extended for another year into the 2018-19 season. 

The blueliner would then return to Sweden the following year, leaving North America with 53 AHL appearances to his name. For the 2019-20 season, Ekman Larsson would play for BIK Karlskoga and Karlskrona HK – both in the Allsvenskan, before opting not to play in 2020-21.

In his final year in Sweden, before joining the Storm, Ekman Larsson dressed on 31 occasions for Karlskrona HK in the HockeyEttan – as the club narrowly missed out on a promotion back into the Allsvenskan.

Head coach, Matt Ginn, had this to say about his blueline recruit:

“Kevin is a real solid defencemen and all-round hockey player. He is going to shore things up along the blueline and joins us with a wealth experience – that the rest of our young group can learn from. 

Naturally, he is a great skater; takes the body well and is composed in possession of the puck. All reports back we have had highlighted his team first mentality and want to be on the ice in the biggest of moments. I am depending on him to play big minutes and lead our group along the blueline throughout the course of the season.”