Markus Nurmi Signs with Luleå: Finnish Striker Excited for Real Winter in Hockey City

It is the weather that usually speaks against Luleå in the player market.

For Finnish striker Markus Nurmi, however, there was something that attracted Norrbotten.

– I’m a person who appreciates real winters, so I’m looking forward to coming to a real winter and hockey city, says the 25-year-old shooter on the right hand.

Luleå continue to invest in top Finnish players with their third new signing from the eastern country ahead of next season.

195 centimeter tall Markus Nurmi from TPS Turku has signed a two-year contract.

– Luleå is a team that has always had a lot of Finnish players, so it will be fun to continue that tradition. I have spoken to Finnish and Swedish players and have only heard good things about the city and the association. I have been following the Swedish league for a long time and I like that the teams put pressure and hard forechecking in place. It’s a style of play that suits me, says Markus Nurmi.

In his Finnish parent club, he has been the top scorer and top scorer over the past five seasons.

“Powerful and Strong”

This season he also played with Linus Fröberg, the son of Luleå’s new sporting director, Thomas Fröberg.

– I followed Markus Niemi last season, the feeling is that he has been good all the time with TPS Turku and that he will fit well in Luleå. He is a powerful player who is strong on the puck and usually comes out with a win from the edge duels. In addition, he has a very good direct vision, and we hope to see a lot of him in the coming season, says Thomas Fröberg.

Luleå have lost Juhani Tyrväinen until next season, but Oskari Laaksonen is missing.

The Finnish nyförvarv also has two special offensive players, forward Anton Levtchi and center Eetu Koivistoinen.

In addition, Luleå has recruited the more defensive center Albin Lundin from Timrå.

Luleå already has good experience with the Nurmi name, when Juhi Nurmi played five elite league seasons for the club in 1985–1990.