Johan Backlund

Johan Backlund
Date of birth	July 24, 1981
place of birth	Skelleftea , Sweden
size	188 cm
Weight	90 kg
position	goalkeeper
number	# 31
Catch hand	Left
Career stations
until 2003	Skellefteå AIK
2003-2006	Leksands IF
2006-2009	Timrå IK
2009–2012	Adirondack Phantoms
2012-2013	Kärpät Oulu
2013-2014	HK Vitjas
2014-2015	HC Slovan Bratislava

Johan Backlund (born July 24, 1981 in Skellefteå ) is a Swedish ice hockey goalkeeper who was most recently under contract with HC Slovan Bratislava in the Continental Hockey League .

Career

Johan Backlund started his professional career at his home club Skellefteå AIK . For the 2003/04 season he then moved to Leksands IF and was now able to establish himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the league. After three more seasons he then moved to Timrå IK in the 2006/07 season , with whom he played an excellent season. He was one of the best goalies of the season , which is proven by his goalscoring average of 2.24 and his catch rate of 91.15%. In the play-offs he failed with his club at the later champions MODO Hockey in seven games with 3: 4 wins. His good performance drew the attention of numerous NHL clubs to him.

In the spring of 2009 he was finally signed by the Philadelphia Flyers and played for their farm team, the Adirondack Phantoms , in the American Hockey League for the next three years . In January 2012, Kärpät Oulu was loaned out, which gave him a contract extension until 2013 at the end of the season. Backlund then moved to the Continental Hockey League for HK Vitjas . In this he was second goalkeeper behind Iwan Lissutin and brought it to 16 KHL games with average statistical values.

Backlund has been under contract with HC Slovan Bratislava since May 2014, where he shares the goalkeeping post with Jaroslav Janus .

International

Backlund took part in the 2007 World Cup in Russia as the goalkeeper of the Swedish national team.

Achievements and Awards

• 2005 Allsvenskan conceded best goals
• 2005 Promotion to the Elitserien with Leksands IF
• 2007 All-Star Team of the Elitserien

Web links

• Johan Backlund at eurohockey.com
• Johan Backlund at hockeygoalies.org
• Johan Backlund at eliteprospects.com (English)