SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey program welcomes William Hakansson to the team as part of the 2023 recruiting class.

Hakansson, a native of Oskarahamn, Sweden, is coming off of a strong season with the Maryland Black Bears of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) after spending the prior three seasons with the Vaxjo Lakers Hockey Club in Sweden. 

In 40 games between the pipes with the Black Bears, Hakansson would make himself known early on, opening the 2022-23 season with a 13-game win streak. During this stretch, he would twice be named the NAHL's East Star of the Week. He received his first weekly honors after stopping 39 of 42 shots in his first two career NAHL games for wins of 4-2 and 3-1 over the then defending Robertson Cup Champion New Jersey Titans. His second NAHL weekly honors came in mid November, 2022 when the goaltender moved his record in goal to a perfect 12-0-0 after stopping 57 of 59 shots in a two-game sweep of the Philadelphia Rebels.

"[Hakansson's] ability to perform under pressure and read the play is as good, or better, than anyone we've had in Maryland," said Black Bears Head Coach Clint Mylymok after Hakansson received his second East Star of the Week recognition. "He's a great teammate and extremely talented."

Hakansson would conclude his brief stint with Maryland with a 26-8-3 overall record between the pipes during the regular season, the second most wins in the NAHL, with a save percentage of .912, and he would go on to help his team in the postseason with a 7-3-0 mark in the NAHL playoffs, propelling the Black Bears to their first ever East Division Championship. 

Hakansson and the Lakers are set to kick off the 2023-24 regular season on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Michigan State.