The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions made sure their top rated German Football League defense would retain their leading tackler with the re-signing of linebacker Roni Salonen from Finland.
The 6’2″, 220 lb 27 year old from Helsinki, Finland led the 2017 Eurobowl champion Lions in tackles with 104 as well as 16 tackles for loss. He sacked the quarterback five times and recorded an interception and a fumble recovery.
The multiple championship winner (Finnish, Austrian and Eurobowl) is aiming for his first German championship as he told the Finnish website, sajl.fi:
“This team is accustomed to success, so “double” is the absolute goal. Both Eurobowl and German Bowl.”
Salonen, who has won Finnish championships, Austrian championships and the Eurobowl in in his career, has yet to win the German championship. The Lions were edged 14-13 in the 2017 German Bowl by the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns.
Salonen began his career with the Helsinki Roosters helping them win the Finnish Maple League title in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. He spent two seasons with Austria’s Swarco Raiders winning the Austrian championship in 2016 when he also returned to Helsinki to help the Roosters win another title.