Latvian defender Markus Komuls is close to signing a contract with HV71 from Jönköping, which competes in the top hockey championship of Sweden (SHL). This was reported by the Swedish publication Expressen. According to the source, the club's management decided to urgently strengthen the defense line. Currently, the team has only six defenders left, and there are about two weeks left until the start of the new SHL season. For Komuls, the move to the Swedish championship could mark a new stage after several seasons spent in various European leagues. In recent years, the defender has played in Finland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Last season, he started with Finnish team HIFK, but after one game, he was unable to secure a place in the lineup and left the team after the tryout. He then moved to the Czech team Verva from Litvínov, where he played 28 games, scored two goals, and provided eight assists. Earlier in his career, the hockey player spent most of his time in North America. He moved there in 2014 and began his professional career in the 2022/23 season with ECHL team Trois-Rivières Lions. In total, Komuls spent about ten years across the ocean. The 2024/25 season saw the defender start with Slovak club Nové Zámky and finish with Czech club Rytíři from Kladno. The move to SHL will provide Komuls with an opportunity to establish himself in one of the strongest national championships in Europe. For HV71, it is also a timely reinforcement of the squad ahead of the new season. Markus Komuls also has experience playing for the Latvian national team and represented the national team at two World Championships.
