Gothenburg. He gave a eulogy for Henrik Lundqvist before landing.
After the game, Joel Lundqvist, 40, was about to collapse when he was talking about his brother.
“Obviously, I wouldn’t be who I am today if I didn’t have my brother,” says Frölunda’s captain with tears in his eyes.
Standing full in Scandinavia, the hockey nobility swoops down on the ice during the celebration. Then Joel Lundqvist made a sweet speech, which managed to be both emotional and joking when he talked about the time Henrik Lundqvist, as a goalkeeper, took a time-out in an away match against Södertälje in the early 2000s.
– I was very touched that he was able to give a speech right before the match. I wouldn’t have been able to do that, I could have said that, “Henke” says.
His brother held him together during the speech, but found it hard to control his sobbing after the match when asked what Henrik meant to him.
– Yeah… erm… uh… I’ll collect myself for a second, he turns, before he can continue:
– We grew up together and pushed each other through our ups and downs. So it’s clearly a big part of me where I am today,” he says with wet eyes.
Frölunda’s captain was partially tired after the match against Rögle (loss after penalty shootout). And partly after the tension before the tribute.
Giving this speech was like going to the match before the match. I was obviously focused and still wanted to say what I wanted to say at that time and in that moment. Tell me how much he meant to me. So, of course, I was excited.
Henrik was impressed that you managed to keep it together?
– Ha-ha, yes, but it will be special. I’ve been to festivities before, it gets emotional. And now your brother is standing there. Obviously I was affected. It’s a lot of impressions, but it’s great fun to be a part of. We almost have to see it in hindsight to be able to take it all in, there are so many feelings there and then.
For Henrik Lundqvist it was a nice evening, even if Frölunda’s side didn’t manage to win. Now, just over a year after he was forced to end his career in August 2021 and undergo heart surgery, honors like those in Scandinavia give him further proof of his magical career.
– Obviously, I had time to think during this time, and I am very happy about everything that I went through. I realize how lucky I am. I landed in it so fast, it wouldn’t have been any other way. Although I had more hockey, I was ready for a new challenge. But then again, life is good today. I enjoy everything.
However, it is not entirely good. The heart surgery was successful, but then he suffered from an infection in the area where the operation was performed.
– I didn’t get back to 100. It went through phases, and the inflammation in particular took time. But I knew he could do it. The operation went well, but then caused a small setback. But I’m fine, I don’t feel anything. I just have to think about how active I am, and I like to play tennis and be active. But I have to be a little careful how fast it speeds up. But it’s going in the right direction and I’m almost done.
