Hugo, an NCAA and Swedish Champion, is the second player in two days to join the club from Sweden’s second tier, HockeyAllsvenskan, after veteran netminder, Anton Svensson penned a one-year deal yesterday.
Last season, Reinhardt iced with Tingsryds AIF and posted eight points (1G, 7A) in 49 league games, which was only his second year of playing at the pro-level after making his debut with Timra IK a year prior.
In his rookie season, the now 26-year-old contributed nine points (5G, 4A) to Timra’s playoff championship run, as he played a part in the side’s promotion to the SHL, Sweden’s top flight.
His 2020-2021 Allsvenskan winners medal sits next to his three NCAA medals, as Hugo won back-to-back regular season titles and a playoff championship with American International College, between 2018 and 2020.
The Kungsbacka-born centerman also played alongside new Stars recruit, Elijiah Barriga during his final two years at AIC, as the pair scooped three championships together.
Although, Reinhardt was also named to the All-Tournament Team in 2018-2019 and the Third-All Conference team the following year, as the 5-foot-11-inch-tall Swede played a total of 131 games during in his college career and collected 76 points (33G, 43A) across his four years as a Yellow Jacket.
The 200lb forward started his career with youth club, Hanhals IF, before progressing through four-time Champions Hockey League winners, Frolunda Indians youth system.
A quick stint with Goteberg in 2011-2012 for the TV-Pucken tournament saw Hugo post six points in eight games, as a 15-year-old and after that he continued to ascend through the Swedish junior leagues, winning a bronze medal at U18 level and silver medals in his U16 and U20 seasons.
Ahead of the 2015-2016 campaign, Reinhardt finally left Sweden and played his first season abroad as he joined American club, Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League and after one year in North Dakota he was off to play in the NCAA with AIC.
After adding the highly decorated forward, Stars GM and Head Coach, Jeff Mason said: “Hugo’s was a name I had heard before and he comes very highly respected by his past coaches.
“One of his former coaches at AIC, who I have great relationship with, speaks extremely highly of him as both a player and a person.
“I believe Hugo will come to Dundee and be a fan favourite because he plays the game the right way, he plays hard and he is not afraid to go to the net.
“At the NCAA level he had a lot of offensive success and in the Allsvenskan he had more of a defensive role over the last two years, but he is also a winner, he has been on a lot of winning teams and he has been a captain too.
“So, Hugo knows what it takes to win and I expect him to be a leader on our team and certainly someone who I think will embody our identity next season.”
Discussing Reinhard’s time in Sweden and his first two years of pro hockey in the highly-rated Allsvenskan, Mason added: “The Allsvenskan is a very good league and in his first year in that league, his team gained promotion up to the SHL.
“He then went to another Allsvenskan team and as I said he played a more defensive role then, but I expect him to step into more of an offensive role with us, almost a two-way type player.
“He has played at a high level and had success there, he is a real character guy and you know what you are going to get from him night in and night out.
“Even as a junior, if you are a part of an organisation that is the standard of Frolunda and as successful then you are going to gain a wealth of knowledge and have a quality experience.
“Obviously Sweden has a very good reputation of developing very good hockey players and I believe we have a really good one in Hugo Reinhardt.”
In his career so far, Hugo has featured in 426 matches, scored 82 goals, assisted 121 times, and has collected 400 penalty minutes, whilst also making 34 playoff appearances and collecting 10 points (5G, 5A) and 22 penalty minutes.
Hugo is our 16th signing of the summer and joins Drydn Dow, Craig Garrigan, Philippe Sanche, Chris Gerrie, Brython Preece, Mac Howlett, Toms Rutkis, Kris Inglis, Carter Folk, Elijiah Barriga, Ryan Verrier, Fabrizio Ricci, Devon Daniels, Ben Sokay and Anton Svensson on the roster for next season.
You can get your season tickets to watch these 16 players and the rest of the team in the 2022-2023 campaign by contacting: [email protected]
Reinhardt will wear the #13 Stars jersey next season.
To view Hugo’s career stats on Elite Prospects click HERE.
Banner image: IMAGO.
Featured image: Bildbyran.
