Tag: Skellefteå

John Klingberg recalls Skellefteå-Björklöven feud

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

John Klingberg has offered a vivid reminder of what the Skellefteå-Björklöven rivalry means in Swedish hockey. The defenceman spent brief spells with Skellefteå during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, and says the scale of animosity between the clubs is difficult to appreciate from outside the area.

Klingberg recalled the atmosphere building before the previous round, with supporters of both teams raising the temperature. For him, that edge is part of the appeal. He described it as a rivalry Swedish hockey needs and said it is genuinely entertaining.

His sharpest memory comes from Skellefteå’s 2013 Swedish championship triumph. After a first night of celebrations, Klingberg returned home to find the words “Hate Löven” displayed across the outside of his apartment door. There was no congratulatory message for the title-winning team; the focus was entirely on Björklöven. Klingberg said he found the episode fantastic.

Key Facts

  • John Klingberg played for Skellefteå during the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons.
  • Klingberg was part of Skellefteå’s Swedish championship-winning team in 2013.
  • Klingberg said he does not think people across Swedish hockey fully understand how much Skellefteå and Björklöven dislike each other.
  • He said supporters of both clubs had begun building the atmosphere before the previous round.
  • After Skellefteå’s 2013 title celebrations, Klingberg found “Hate Löven” displayed across the outside of his apartment door.

IHM Discussion

This is not a rivalry being presented as a marketing line or a convenient talking point. Klingberg’s memory shows how deeply the Skellefteå-Björklöven divide can run: even a championship celebration was framed through the local contest. The message on his door was not about the medal he had just won, but about the opponent supporters most wanted to provoke.

That history helps explain why the anticipation around meetings can gather well before puck drop. Klingberg’s view is that the hostility and theatre are valuable rather than something to be smoothed away, provided they remain part of the sporting occasion.

Why It Matters

Rivalries give fixtures an identity beyond the standings. For Skellefteå and Björklöven, the connection described by Klingberg links present-day supporter energy with a memory that reaches back to his title-winning season. It also underlines why these meetings can attract attention before any on-ice detail has emerged: the clubs carry a long-established emotional charge.

Mini Q&A

What did John Klingberg say about the Skellefteå-Björklöven rivalry?

Klingberg said people elsewhere in Swedish hockey may not understand how strongly the two clubs dislike each other, and he welcomed the atmosphere it creates.

What happened after Skellefteå won the 2013 Swedish championship?

Klingberg said he returned to his apartment after the first night of celebrations to find “Hate Löven” displayed across the outside of his door.

Jonathan Davidsson addresses Djurgården return talk

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Jonathan Davidsson has played down reports of a possible return to Djurgården, saying he knows nothing about any dialogue concerning his future. The 29-year-old Skellefteå forward was linked earlier this month with a move back to the Stockholm club next season, but stressed that his attention remains on the present.

Davidsson scored against Djurgården in the latest meeting with his former club, a moment he described as especially meaningful. He spent his junior years at Djurgården and made his senior breakthrough there in 2017-18, registering 31 points in 52 games.

Key Facts

  • Jonathan Davidsson said he has not heard anything about his future amid reports linking him with Djurgården.
  • Reports earlier this month claimed that Davidsson could return to Djurgården next season and that serious discussions were under way.
  • Davidsson scored against Djurgården in the latest game against his former club.
  • Davidsson recorded 31 points in 52 games for Djurgården during the 2017-18 season.
  • The 29-year-old has often been used as an extra forward this season and has also been left out of the squad.

IHM Discussion

The link to Djurgården carries obvious personal weight for Davidsson, whose formative years and early senior success came at the club. His response, however, offered no confirmation of a prospective move. He said he is taking matters one game at a time.

That approach also reflects his current situation at Skellefteå. Davidsson acknowledged that limited involvement can be frustrating and mentally demanding, but said that once a match begins his focus is on each shift. The immediate story is therefore one of a player attempting to handle an unsettled role while speculation continues around a familiar former team.

Why It Matters

Davidsson’s comments keep the Djurgården story firmly in the realm of reported interest rather than a completed or agreed transfer. For Skellefteå, his remarks also underline that he remains focused on contributing despite not holding a regular place in the line-up.

For Djurgården supporters, the connection is understandable given Davidsson’s history with the club, but there is no indication from the player that a return has been arranged.

Mini Q&A

What did Jonathan Davidsson say about a possible Djurgården return?

He said he knows nothing about it and has not heard anything regarding his future.

Why is Djurgården significant to Davidsson?

He came through the club’s youth system, made his senior breakthrough there and produced 31 points in 52 games in 2017-18.

Emil Djuse nearing Skellefteå return after absence

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Emil Djuse is closing in on his Skellefteå return after missing the start of the season. Andreas Hermansson said the defenceman trained fully on Friday and again at the start of the week, but will not be available in the opening days.

A return later in the week remains possible, although Hermansson stressed that remains an optimistic scenario. Skellefteå begin the week with a home meeting against Red Bull Salzburg and then face two away fixtures later in the week.

Fredrik Hasa will also miss the Salzburg game. Hermansson said Skellefteå’s junior system and broad senior squad could allow the club to give younger players ice time during the season.

Key Facts

  • Emil Djuse has missed the start of the season for Skellefteå.
  • Andreas Hermansson said Djuse trained fully on Friday and again at the start of the week.
  • Djuse is not available at the beginning of the week, but could return later in the week if progress continues positively.
  • Skellefteå are due to host Red Bull Salzburg before travelling for two away games later in the week.
  • Fredrik Hasa will miss the game against Red Bull Salzburg.
  • Hermansson said Skellefteå may use junior players at points during the season because of the club’s junior set-up and depth in the senior squad.

IHM Discussion

The immediate message is encouraging without being definitive. Full training puts Djuse closer to selection, but Skellefteå are not treating that as an automatic return for the first game of the week. The club have several fixtures in a short span, and Hermansson described Djuse’s potential comeback as particularly welcome given the volume of matches.

Skellefteå also have options while players are absent. Hermansson indicated that junior players could receive opportunities during the season, providing a route to cover short-term availability issues without placing a premature expectation on Djuse’s return.

Why It Matters

Djuse was described by Hermansson as an important player following his form at the end of last season. His possible return would come during a busy stretch for the champions, who must manage a home game against Salzburg and subsequent away fixtures while Hasa is unavailable.

Mini Q&A

When could Emil Djuse return for Skellefteå?

He is unavailable at the start of the week, but Andreas Hermansson said a return later in the week is possible if matters develop positively.

Has Djuse returned to training?

Yes. Hermansson said Djuse trained fully on Friday and again at the start of the week.

Who will miss the Red Bull Salzburg game?

Fredrik Hasa is confirmed to miss the game, while Djuse is not expected to be available in the opening days of the week.

What Comes Next

The next checkpoint is whether Djuse can move from full training into selection later in the week. Skellefteå also have the Salzburg home game followed by two away fixtures on their schedule.

SHL admits review failure over Skellefteå goal

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

SHL has conceded that Skellefteå’s disputed goal against Timrå should have been subjected to a video review. Referee chief Tomas Thorsbrink said the missed review amounted to “some form of system failure”, while stressing that it remains unknown whether a review would have changed the decision on the ice.

The acknowledgement followed a meeting between SHL and the league’s sporting directors, convened to discuss a run of contentious incidents around the crease during the opening of the 2026-27 season. The meeting was intended to revisit the applicable rule and explain how officials had reached their decisions in the disputed plays.

Timrå coach Mikael Gath, whose side was involved in the Skellefteå incident, said the error could not now be remedied. Gath had also voiced frustration over another debated play involving Mikkel Aagaard and goalkeeper Jacob Johansson, questioning whether goals should be allowed when a goalkeeper’s pad is pushed into the net.

Luleå sporting director Ulf Engman said the meeting reviewed several controversial situations, including Mattias Bromé’s disallowed goal against Brynäs. Engman said sporting directors remain divided over how some calls should be judged and does not expect the current rulebook to remove every difficult decision.

Key Facts

  • Tomas Thorsbrink said Skellefteå’s goal against Timrå should have received a video assessment.
  • Thorsbrink described the missed assessment as “some form of system failure” which must be addressed.
  • SHL and all league sporting directors met to discuss goalmouth situations and the way recent decisions had been made.
  • Thorsbrink said the number of difficult goalmouth situations had risen from around 10 to 20 from one season to the next.
  • Thorsbrink said it is not known whether a video review would have altered the outcome of the Skellefteå-Timrå incident.
  • Timrå coach Mikael Gath said he was angry and disappointed, but that nothing could be changed afterwards.
  • Gath also questioned the Mikkel Aagaard incident, saying Jacob Johansson’s pad had been pushed into the goal.
  • Ulf Engman said the sporting directors disagree on many judgement calls and that the rules will not change during the season.
  • The meeting also considered Mattias Bromé’s disallowed goal against Brynäs.

IHM Discussion

The important part of SHL’s response is not a retrospective ruling on the goal, because Thorsbrink has not claimed that the decision would necessarily have been reversed. It is the admission that the process failed before that point. Video review exists to give officials another look at precisely the sort of congested crease play that has dominated early-season debate.

That distinction matters. A missed review and an incorrect final decision are not the same thing, and SHL has only confirmed the former. By leaving the hypothetical outcome open, Thorsbrink has avoided presenting an unverified reversal while still accepting that the expected procedure was not followed.

The meeting also underlined the limits of a rules discussion when the issue is interpretation. Engman’s comments show that even senior hockey figures can watch the same contact around a goalkeeper and reach different conclusions. Such plays often involve screens, sticks, skates, bodies and loose equipment in a matter of seconds. The challenge for the league is therefore consistency in applying the existing standard, rather than suggesting that every controversial sequence has an obvious answer.

Why It Matters

For Timrå, the admission will not alter the completed decision, as Gath acknowledged. It does, however, place the focus on how similar incidents are handled from this point onward. Clubs need confidence that a potentially decisive crease situation will at least receive the review mechanism available to officials.

For the wider SHL, the episode arrives amid an unusually visible debate over goals around the net. Thorsbrink’s estimate that difficult cases have increased from 10 to 20 from season to season gives context to why the league brought its sporting directors together. The league has not announced a rule change, but it has publicly identified a procedural lapse and revisited the interpretation of the current framework.

Mini Q&A

What has SHL admitted about Skellefteå’s goal against Timrå?

Referee chief Tomas Thorsbrink said the goal should have been sent for a video assessment and called the missed review a system failure.

Has SHL said the goal would have been disallowed after a review?

No. Thorsbrink said it is not known what the outcome of a video review would have been.

Were SHL’s rules changed after the meeting?

No. Ulf Engman said the rules do not change during the season, although difficult judgement calls will continue.

Coach Mark Comment

Crease decisions demand a clear separation between contact that prevents a goalkeeper from playing the puck and incidental congestion created by attacking and defending players competing for space. The acknowledged failure here is procedural: a video review should have created the chance to assess the contact in full. That does not establish what the final ruling ought to have been, but it does reinforce the value of calm, consistent review discipline when the net-front picture is crowded.

IHM Final View

SHL has made a limited but meaningful concession: Skellefteå’s goal against Timrå should have been reviewed. The league has not said the goal should have been overturned, and that uncertainty should remain central to the discussion. The next test is whether officials can apply the review process reliably in the difficult goalmouth situations that SHL itself expects to continue.

Mikkel Aagaard’s Skellefteå future unresolved

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Mikkel Aagaard says he is happy in Sweden and at Skellefteå AIK, but the Danish forward’s future beyond the current season remains unresolved.

The 30-year-old is in the final year of the two-year contract he signed on joining Skellefteå ahead of last season. He has confirmed that he met general manager Erik Forssell after the summer break, although he said the discussion was not specifically about a new deal and that his agent is now responsible for contract matters.

Aagaard made an immediate impact in his first Skellefteå season, scoring 20 goals and 43 points in 50 matches as the club won the Swedish championship. He has opened this season with four goals and three assists in six games.

Key Facts

  • Mikkel Aagaard’s two-year Skellefteå AIK contract expires after the current season.
  • Aagaard scored 20 goals and 43 points in 50 matches last season.
  • He won the Swedish championship in his first season with Skellefteå.
  • The Danish forward has recorded four goals and three assists in six games this season.
  • Aagaard said he met Skellefteå general manager Erik Forssell after the summer break, but not specifically to discuss a contract.
  • Oscar Lindberg is under contract with Skellefteå until 2029, while Rickard Hugg’s deal runs until 2028.

IHM Discussion

Aagaard’s contract position is notable because he has already established himself as a productive part of Skellefteå’s leading line. His first-season totals combined finishing with consistent overall production, and his early return of seven points in six matches has maintained that level at the start of the new campaign.

He also described a settled personal situation in Sweden, citing the family’s home in Örnsköldsvik and the help available from his in-laws. That does not amount to a contract decision, but it provides clear context for why remaining in Sweden appeals to him.

For now, Aagaard has drawn a line between his own conversation with Forssell and formal negotiations. He said the August meeting covered a range of topics rather than a specific contract discussion, with his agent handling the next stage.

Why It Matters

Skellefteå have long-term certainty around Lindberg and Hugg, whose contracts run through 2029 and 2028 respectively. Aagaard’s expiring deal therefore stands out within that established forward combination.

His production also gives the situation sporting importance. Retaining a player who scored 20 times in 50 games during a title-winning season would preserve a proven attacking contributor, while the absence of a new agreement leaves his status beyond this campaign open.

Mini Q&A

When does Mikkel Aagaard’s Skellefteå contract expire?

His two-year contract expires after the current season.

How did Aagaard perform for Skellefteå last season?

He scored 20 goals and 43 points in 50 matches as Skellefteå won the Swedish championship.

Has Aagaard confirmed negotiations on a new deal?

No. He confirmed an August meeting with general manager Erik Forssell, but said it was not specifically about a contract and that his agent is handling those matters.

Coach Mark Comment

Aagaard’s early scoring return underlines the value of continuity in a successful forward unit. Skellefteå already have contractual security for Lindberg and Hugg; Aagaard’s unresolved situation is therefore the one element that could affect the group’s continuity after the season.

What Comes Next

The next clear checkpoint is the conclusion of Aagaard’s current contract after the season. Until then, any formal progress would need to come through the contract process being handled by his agent and Skellefteå.

IHM Final View

Aagaard has made clear that he enjoys life in Sweden and has quickly become a high-producing Skellefteå player. However, with no specific contract negotiations confirmed, his future after the current season remains undecided.

Linus Söderström hopes for October return to Skellefteå

By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | Published:

Story Summary

Skellefteå goaltender Linus Söderström missed the opening of the 2026/27 SHL season as he continues rehabilitation after surgery on his other foot. The 30-year-old began skating a few weeks ago and is rebuilding step by step, avoiding firm return dates. Söderström said he elected to have the operation earlier in the hope of an earlier comeback and that the procedure was similar to last year’s, though on the opposite foot. He is taking the process week by week and said he hopes he may be able to play sometime in October. Last season, Söderström returned only in February, played five regular-season games and was part of Skellefteå’s run to an SM-guld.

Key Facts

  • Linus Söderström is 30 years old and is identified as Skellefteå’s star goaltender.
  • Söderström missed the start of the 2026/27 SHL season; this is the second year in a row he has missed the opening of the campaign.
  • He has undergone a surgical procedure similar to last year’s operation, but on his other foot this time.
  • Söderström began skating again a few weeks before speaking to TV4 and is working to reintegrate on-ice movements.
  • He said he chose to have the operation earlier this year in the hope of an earlier return and that he ” wanted to get it done” as soon as possible.
  • Last season he did not return to the ice until February, played five regular-season games and was part of Skellefteå’s Swedish Championship gold (SM-guld) later in the spring.
  • Söderström has won three SM-guld in his career: 2017, 2024 and 2026.
  • On his timetable for this season, Söderström said he prefers to take the rehab week by week and suggested he ” maybe can play sometime in October,” while stressing he dislikes setting fixed dates.

IHM Discussion

Söderström’s comments underline a cautious, process-driven approach to recovery. He contrasts this year’s decision to operate earlier with a rehabilitation attempt last summer that did not go well, saying he did not hesitate when a similar situation arose. His focus is on movement patterns in the operated area and on avoiding the pressure of committing to calendar dates. That approach reflects last season’s delayed return, when he resumed in February and played five regular-season games before contributing to Skellefteå’s title success. The earlier operation may give him a better chance of returning sooner, but his own language puts prudence ahead of speed.

Why It Matters

Söderström is a Skellefteå star and a proven playoff performer. A fully fit return in October would give the reigning champions another experienced option in goal, while a longer absence would require them to continue without one of their three-time Swedish champions. His preference for movement quality over preset return dates points to a recovery process built around readiness rather than a rushed comeback.

Mini Q&A

Why is Linus Söderström missing the start of the SHL season?

He is rehabbing after undergoing surgery on the other foot; it is a similar type of procedure to last year’s operation but performed on the opposite foot.

When did he begin on-ice work?

Söderström said he began skating a few weeks ago and is working his way back on the ice.

Has he had this kind of operation before?

Yes; he had a comparable operation last year and this year’s procedure is similar in many ways, though on the other foot.

What is his expected return timetable?

He is avoiding fixed dates but said he is taking rehabilitation week by week and hopes he ” maybe can play sometime in October.”

How did last season’s comeback go?

Last season he did not return until February, played five regular-season games and was part of Skellefteå’s eventual SM-guld that spring.

How many Swedish Championship golds has Söderström won?

He has won three SM-guld in his career: 2017, 2024 and 2026.

What Comes Next

Söderström is progressing week by week in his rehabilitation and said he hopes he may be able to play sometime in October. October is a possibility, not a fixed return date.

IHM Final View

Linus Söderström has undergone surgery on his other foot, resumed skating and is rebuilding carefully. After returning late last season and helping Skellefteå secure an SM-guld, an earlier comeback would be welcome, but he has been clear that he will not force a timetable. An October return remains possible, not guaranteed.