Nils Ekman has been without a hockey job since he saved the Brenas in 2021.
Djurgårds’ profile is also not sure if he can take on a new coaching job.
– You have your dips. There are some after-effects of stroke, Ekman tells Sportbladet.
After successful qualification with Brynäs 2021 Nils Ekman He did not work in any hockey club. Instead, he was an expert commentator on SVT.
– I’m a hockey freak and I consume a lot of hockey. Of course, I look closely at the teams that I will be commenting on, and it may happen that I check some training in case it comes to international matches. But other than that, I don’t need a lot of preparation. I follow hockey a lot. In all tournaments, Ekman tells Sportbladet.
In December 2010, 34-year-old Nils Ekman suffered a stroke. As a result, he had to end his playing career and says he still has the disease to this day.
Despite this, he has had several different assignments, within both SDHL and SHL, over the years. But now he misses working with hockey.
– Yes, maybe that’s why I’m an expert. To stay close to sports. Now I don’t have a mission to take part in. This is clearly the most fun, says Ekman.
Would you have ended up on a mission if it had been available?
No, only if it’s really fun. And if you feel like you’ve made a difference.
“I’m not sure I can handle it with my health”
Ekman explains:
– But there is a lot of work. Not sure that with my health I can handle it for long. It is important to find the right person.
Can you tell me more about how you feel?
– Good. But you have your dips. There are head problems and some after-effects of a stroke. Some days are worse. And it becomes difficult to do something continuously and have a club team for many months and years. It will be very difficult.
There is a lot of time to devote.
– exactly. If you want to do it really right, which is a prerequisite for doing a task, then you have to put in a lot of time.
Saved
Along with Joseph Boumediene, Nils Ekmann coached the Brenas in the spring of 2021 crisis. Prior to the playoffs against HV71, the duo were hired as head coach of Gavle Kloppen – and ended up with the Brenas staying in the SHL.
– It was worth trying it. We were absolutely convinced that things would turn out the way they did. Then you can say that she was a little lucky, because there were small margins. But I didn’t feel that way. I felt we had a solid understanding of the situation. Ekman says it was great to see how the guys got together and played as a team.
After a brilliant finish at Brynäs, and several years as a player and captain at Djurgården, Ekman believes there are two teams he follows closely these days.
– Brynäs and Djurgården mean something. This is because you know the people behind them and in the organizations. He says you care about them as individuals and then it becomes natural to follow the law.
How did you feel when Djurgarden came out?
– this is shame. They didn’t play well and didn’t get anything from the material. They were substandard. As an animal keeper, as I am, I felt ashamed. Now the situation is different.
Do you have any theories as to why they left?
– I have many theories about this. But I keep that to myself. I’m pretty clear about what happened and why.
Did Djurgården ask you to join the association again?
– number.
Tribute to KG Stoppel
Were you hoping for that?
Depends on what role and in what role. I miss the role you played in the women’s division. I would like to say that I miss my role as a technical coach and mentor in the hockey gym and the youth I have worked with for many years. Those were wonderful years. Perhaps I wanted to work with small activities.
Is there a specific role you would like to play?
– I don’t know. If it’s fun, you can obviously try. It is important which team you have around you. As KG Stoppel (current Director of Sports at Djurgården) has covered and assisted me the whole time at Djurgården regarding the women’s project…
– I wouldn’t have been able to manage it without KG. It is a nice. It’s really harsh. He’s professional, low-key and real. There is no one to hate him.
