Jakob Ihs-Wozniak made an immediate impact in his debut for Björklöven, scoring a power-play goal in their 2-5 victory away at Almtuna. The 18-year-old forward, on loan from Luleå, slotted into the top line and logged 13:55 of ice time. His direct shot extended the lead to 3-1 in the second period.
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak joined Björklöven on loan from Luleå for the rest of the season, flying from Luleå to Uppsala on Wednesday morning to make his debut against Almtuna. The 18-year-old had struggled for playing time in SHL, averaging 6:30 per game across 13 appearances and four CHL games, where he scored two goals—both early in the season against Malmö and Brynäs. He had been a healthy scratch in three SHL matches and played just one shift in another, plus one U20 game recently. Ihs-Wozniak was also overlooked for Sweden's junior national team squad for the final pre-JVM tournament, despite a strong 3+1 showing in an August event.
Coach Magnus Bogren placed Ihs-Wozniak on the top line with Albin Lundin and Marcus Nilsson, typically Fredrik Forsberg's wing spot, and gave him power-play time on Forsberg's position. Five minutes into the second period, with Björklöven leading 2-1, Ihs-Wozniak received a pass over the center line from Nilsson in power play. He fired a direct shot past Almtuna goaltender Herman Liv, extending the lead to 3-1. TV4 commentator Linus Eklund called it 'a class goal' and praised the debut: 'There he scores in debut! What a start on this loan.'
Björklöven pulled away for a 5-2 win, showcasing their deep forward group—now bolstered by Ihs-Wozniak's sharp shooting and skills, despite no full practice with the team yet. Ihs-Wozniak expressed excitement about the move: 'It feels great. Fun to come to a new team and meet new guys. Feels like Löven is a good club and good at developing players too.' He added about his Luleå stint: 'It has been a lot up and down really... I need to play more and develop so this was a good solution.' Analysts note Björklöven's forward depth rivals Modo's as the best in the league, positioning them as a top contender.
