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Marcus Kristoffersson signs for Phoenix

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Manchester Phoenix ice hockey club won an early pre-season battle when they beat a number of other sides for the signature of top Swedish forward Marcus Kristoffersson.

Phoenix player-coach Tony Hand said he was "delighted" to have secured the services of the former AHLer, and said that he would bring "a lot to our game for the coming season."

Standing 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 205 pounds, Kristoffersson, a 31 year-old right winger from Ostersund, Sweden, brings with him an illustrious playing portfolio.

He played more than 260 games in the Swedish Elite League (Elitserien) for Djurgarden (with whom he won the League title in 2001) and Skelleftea, as well as 38 games in the SM-Liga, the top league in Finland.

He also spent two seasons with the Utah Grizzlies in the AHL, where he played 112 games, scoring 16 goals and 19 assists, amassing 35 points and 100 penalty minutes.

He spent last season playing for Orebro in the Allsvenskan, the Swedish second-tier league.

Tony hand said: "I am really pleased to get Marcus. He will bring a lot to our game next season. He's big, he's powerful, he gets goals, he hits, he checks, he does everything.

"Very importantly, he's also a two way player. He will track back and help his team when he's on the ice. I didn't really want just an out and out goalscorer because we needed more options to our game. Marcus fits the bill perfectly. I'm delighted he's joining us."

Marcus Kristoffersson said: "I heard a lot of good things about Manchester from my friend Andre Mattsson who played there last year, and I thought it would be interesting to play in the UK for the first time.

"He had good things to say about the set up, and Tony, and the fans, so I decided I had to come and see for myself.

"I hope that my experience of playing at a high level will be useful to some of the younger players in the team, to help them develop and reach those levels themselves.

"I am a team player first, so I always put that as a priority. Although I like to get goals, I have not had so many offensive roles in the past so I am looking forward to concentrating on that, but I also know how to play a good defence, and that is just as big a part of my game.

"I am looking forward to meeting everyone, I'm sure it's going to be a good year."

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