Updated 15.40 | Published 15.37
Orbridge. Luka Radivojevic is in Örebro’s squad tonight.
The 16-year-old right-winger is a superstar talent, the son of a legend and the first player born in 2007 who can play in the SHL.
– He is a very fun and exciting player to watch on the ice, and he is attack-minded, says coach Johan Hedberg.
Slovakian Luka Radivojevic came to Sweden in the 2020/2021 season and played matches for the AIK U16 team.
Starting last season, he joined the popular and successful hockey gym in Örebro, where matches were held in the U16, U18 and U20 categories.
This season he is playing mainly in the J20 category and has had the opportunity to train with the first team during the autumn.
With measurements of 178 cm and 70 kg, it is the technique and skating that mainly stand out.
– There is no doubt that Luke will become a great hockey player. He’s incredibly skilled. “He has a keen eye for the game and is mobile,” says Johan Hedberg.
Successful in the NHL
The father is 42-year-old Slovakian Branko Radivojevic, a right-handed forward who played six seasons in the NHL with 430 games with the Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild, playing six NHL seasons, two Olympics, one World Cup and six World Cups. .
Luka Radivojevic is in the starting lineup when Örebro takes on Leksand at home on Thursday night in the SHL’s resumption.
Star defender Samuel Johansson was injured in training on Tuesday and will be sidelined until after Christmas.
This means that Luka Radivojevic will be placed in the seventh defender position, Johan Hedberg usually plays with six defenders in the team, but the opportunity to play is still great.
– It’s nice to come and be part of the hot air. “Now he can participate and experience how to do it at this level with speed and intensity,” says Johan Hedberg. “A match like this is the best our country has to offer.”
Too small for a project this summer
Branko Radivojevic is now the sporting director of Dukla Trencin in Slovakia.
Many also know him from his 14 Elite Series appearances for Luleå during the 2004/05 lockout season.
During the national team break, Luka Radivojević got many match minutes for the Slovakian J20 team and will likely play for JVM in Gothenburg.
He’s not relevant until the 2025 NHL Draft, but according to early speculation, he’ll be ranked highly before then.
Örebro’s 17-year-old forward, Alexander Zetterberg, is expected to be a top-10 pick in this summer’s draft.