Broncos Honka
Julius Honka

One of the most talked about new faces at Swift Current Broncos camp still hasn't hit the ice with the team yet.

Finnish defenceman Julius Honka is still waiting for a transfer card so he can officially join the Broncos, but he's in the city now and settling in for life in Saskatchewan.

"It's been great," he said. "A lot of fun here, nice place, so sunny... I like this place."

Honka is entering his 18-year-old season and will be NHL draft eligible for the first time next June. That was the primary motivation for him agreeing to become a Bronco.

Julius Honka Interview"The biggest reason to come here is I have the draft next year," he said. "This culture here is great. I like North American hockey and Canadian types."

He's primarily known as a skilled, puck moving defenceman and when pushed to compare himself to a current NHLer he chose Swedish star Erik Karlsson as an example of the style he plays.

"I like to keep the puck and I'm an offensive player," Honka said. "Those are the biggest things in my game."

He added that the defensive zone is very important and maybe will be his primary focus in terms of the part of his game he wants to improve.

Swift Current's Coach and GM Mark Lamb got to see Honka in person as he played for Finland during World Juniors exhibition action in Lake Placid this month.

"He's about 5'10 and can really skate, can really handle the puck, can really pass," Lamb said. "He lost a couple of guys on the forecheck and he really likes the game. He's got a lot of passion for the game. People are going to like watching him play."

Honka put up 4 goals and 11 assists in 42 games with JYP's U20 team last season and played for Finland at the U18 tournament. He is from the same city as Broncos goaltender Eetu Laurikainen and consulted with London Knights star Olli Matta before deciding to make the move to Canada.