Muskegon Lumberjack Rasmus Bengtsson

By Ron Rop
Local Sports Journal

The Muskegon Lumberjacks will be without their top defenseman for the next week.

League club. The Rampage is the AHL affiliate of the Panthers.

“I am excited that I am going to San Antonio to show the Florida
Panthers what I am all about,” Bengtsson said.  “It will be a tough
camp with a lot of great players there, but this camp will give me a
great deal of experience so that I am more prepared mentally and
physically for going to Panthers camp next season.”

The Panthers selected the native of Landskrona, Sweden with their
second-round pick (59th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He is
6-foot-2, 195 pounds.

Bengstton will work out with other Panther prospects and AHL veterans.
Later in the week, he may see ice time in a Rampage preseason game.

“I am very pleased for Rasmus – it is awesome for him personally, and
for our program,” Lumberjacks’ owner Josh Mervis said.  “I’d be remiss
if I didn’t thank the Florida Panthers for entrusting his development
to us, and also to his advisors at CAA, Peter Werner and J.P. Barry,
for having the confidence in the Lumberjacks and in the USHL as the
path to help him prepare for the NHL.”

“I am very excited for Rasmus as it is a great step to starting his
pro career,” Lumberjacks coach Jim McKenzie said. “It is a great
opportunity for him and he will gain a great amount of experience in
going to the camp.”