Victor Söderström wore this kachina alternate set game worn jersey for the Tucson Roadrunners during his first season of professional hockey in North America.
Söderström was considered the steal of the draft by former Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka. He was the player the Coyotes had targeted as their top prospect.
The young Swede skated in 32 games in Tucson, scoring 2 goals and adding 10 assists.
It wasn’t the most impactful season, but taking into account the issues surrounding his last two professional seasons (both abbreviated due to COVID-19) he certainly had some flashes of promise including a late season call-up to Glendale where he scored his first NHL goal.
Victor Söderström fires the puck on net during a May 16th, 2021 game against the Ontario Reign. (photo credit: Chris Hook)
The Roadrunners wore their kachinas in five games (2/20, 3/6, 3/20, 4/3, & 5/16) in the 2020-2021 season.
Soderstrom’s jersey has very light wear with only a few board burns.
This jersey was sold directly by the team.
Analysts always talk about how it often takes defensemen longer to develop.
That remains to be seen with Söderström, but at age 20 he’s still not a finished product.
He’s got the skating and the skill. Now he just needs the experience. And perhaps for COVID-19 not to wreck every season of his development.