Luke Santerno, a 28-year-old Canadian forward, is embarking on a new journey as he joins the Budapest Jégkorong Akadémia Hockey Club, a member of the Erste Liga league in Hungary. He concluded last season in the ECHL with the Cincinnati Cyclones, putting up four points in 10 games in the final games of the regular season. Throughout the season, he experienced two trades, first from the KC Mavericks to the Floria Everblades and then to the Cincinnati Cyclones. His college hockey career was also noteworthy, with four years at NCAA D1 Bentley University and a fifth year at Clarkson University, where he accumulated an impressive 122 points in 154 collegiate games. After college, he ventured into his professional career, signing his pro contract with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL, among the five teams he played for over three years, notching 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) in 98 games. Now, he is set to continue his career in Budapest, hoping for more success. Read below on what Head Coach Balázs Kangyal thinks about the addition of Luke:
“I could list the Hungarian guys who we would have liked to be in the team, but we couldn’t agree on them.” I was definitely looking for a guy who graduated from uni – just like our other two legionaries – he had good years in the uni league and was already in the cycle of professional life. This is true for Luke, although it’s true he hasn’t quite found his place lately, so I hope this will be a good opportunity for him and for us to bring back the levels he knew when he was young. This was the case with Gooch and Mozer before, so I really hope that Luke will fit into this family, too, and since there are no Hungarian uplifts left, at least we could verify someone from Star Wars”
Balázs Kangyal’s thoughts on adding Luke to the team
Santerno also added his thoughts on why he chose to play for the club:
“I chose Budapest because it has the reputation of a beautiful and bustling city. Many of my friends and family have visited Hungary, they all said great things about the country and the city. As far as the team is concerned, BJA HC is always competitive in the Championship, I look forward to contributing to the club’s further success throughout the tournament. I really like how the academy has a significant impact on the community, it plays a huge role in developing local players and the growth of the sport. I will strive to help the team reach the first place in the championship, secure it to the playoffs and, eventually, win the championship title.
“Building a cohesive and persistent team is essential to this and I want to be an integral part of this process.”
“I must adapt to the European playing style and I will do everything to achieve that, I want to become a decisive player for the team. Since it will be my first visit to Europe, I consider this adventure as a challenge, but it is a challenge I am happy to take. It will push me out of my comfort zone, it will help me develop as a player and as a person, it will enrich me with new experiences. “
Santerno’s thoughts on joining Budapest
