Thursday became a day to remember for Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Tinus Luc Koblar. In his first SHL game with actual ice time, he scored his first professional goal in Leksand’s 8–5 victory over Skellefteå on home ice.

And it was a beauty.

The lanky center weaved his way through the opposing team before firing the puck home to give his team a 5–1 lead in the first period.

“It was a great feeling, and I felt the pressure lift off my shoulders when I saw the puck go in,” Tinus Luc Koblar said after the game.

“I just tried to create a scoring chance. When I saw that I had faked out the defenseman, I thought I’d attack the net. After that, it was just about finishing.”

Luc Koblar moved to Leksand in 2023. He’s a Norwegian citizen but was born in Slovenia, with Bled as his hometown club.

“I was basically just born there, so what I remember from that time is only a few childhood memories, nothing more special than that. I started playing hockey in Bled, but I actually don’t remember how long I played there.”

To no one’s surprise, fellow Slovenian Anze Kopitar has been a major role model growing up.

“Exactly, it was him. My dad (Jernej Koblar) knows their family really well, so I’ve had some contact with him,” he said. “I got to know Anže when I was a kid, at six years old. To be with him at practice, to observe him, to talk with him, to get some advice from him – all of that was inspiration and motivation for me. ‘Kopi’ has always been my idol growing up, and I’ve learned a lot from watching him. His career is absolutely amazing, really one of the best to ever do it. Twenty years in the NHL speaks for itself.”

Tinus Luc Koblar comes from a family with a strong sports background. His mother, Andreja, competed for Slovenia in biathlon at the Olympics in 1994, 1998, and 2002, while his father, Jernej, was an alpine skier.

The family ended up in Norway when his dad got a job with the national team.

“After a year, we thought it was better if we all moved to Norway,” says Luc Koblar, who ended up playing for Storhamar. “It was a great time for me in Storhamar, and I got the chance to develop a lot there. The coaches worked to help me take the next step. Then it was time to move to Leksand.”

Leksand scouted him, liked what they saw, and contacted his family.

“I thought it was a good organization with a good coaching staff that took care of me and saw potential in me, while I also felt that I could develop well here.”

Moving to yet another country at the age of 16 was a challenge.

“(Laughs) It was a little stressful at first, but I got some help from mom and dad with moving in. I quickly learned how to cook, take care of myself, and all of that.”

Last summer, Tinus Luc Koblar was drafted 64th overall by Toronto in the second round.

“I was at home in Norway with my family. A lot of thoughts and emotions went through me right then. It was a great feeling to see results from all the work I’ve put in. At the same time, it was a dream come true to be drafted. It’s super cool that it was Toronto, a club I’ve looked up to since childhood.”

The Maple Leafs are also the organization that drafted his Leksand teammate Victor Johansson in the fourth round in 2024. Both of them attended Toronto’s camp this past summer.

“It was really good. It was nice to have someone who had been there before, who could help me with everything over there, and who took care of me when I arrived,” said Tinus Luc Koblar.

He said he learned a lot from the experience.
“The intensity and the amount of work you need to put in to make it all the way to the NHL. And all the knowledge they shared.”

Having already gotten ice time in the SHL – and even scored his first goal – makes his season an early success.

“My goal is to go as far as possible with both the U20 and the SHL team. And when I do get a chance with the senior team, to take it and try to play as well as I can.”

The national team is also on his mind.

“Yes, absolutely. There’s the World Juniors… Then it’s the senior national team that I’ll try to fight my way into,” Tinus Luc Koblar said, just as Victor Johansson loudly commented that it’s his Toronto jersey they were using when photographing the 18-year-old Norwegian prospect.