Johan Fransson

Playing career

Fransson began playing bandy in Kalix, and his team won the Swedish championship for 13-year-olds in 1998; he credits his skating ability to that background. In the 2000–01 season he represented Norrbotten in the TV-pucken tournament and played for Kalix HF in Division 1. The following season he played for Luleå HF in the J20 SuperElit junior league. He made his Elitserien debut for Luleå in 2002–03 but appeared in only three games due to a groin injury. Returning for 2003–04, he was nominated for Elitserien Rookie of the Year. In his first playoff game he suffered a concussion from a check by Peter Nordström of Färjestads BK; he returned for one more game as his team was eliminated. His 2004–05 season was less strong, and the next season he struggled and was not re-signed. He and teammate Karl Fabricius signed with Frölunda HC. After a coaching change from Stephan Lundh to Per Bäckman, Fransson saw reduced ice time and was loaned to Ässät of the SM-liiga in Finland. In 2007 he was traded to Linköpings HC for Oscar Ackeström. He played eight regular season and fifteen playoff games without scoring a point, but Linköping reached the Swedish Championship finals, losing to Modo Hockey. In 2007–08 he played 48 games, recording career highs of five goals and fourteen points, and made his Tre Kronor debut. Linköping again reached the finals, blowing a 2–0 series lead and losing to HV71 2–4. His 2008–09 season did not sustain that success; he was released in January and signed with HC Lugano of the Swiss National League A, where he scored two goals and five points in seven regular games and two goals in four playoff games.