Game. We will miss you Joel Lundqvist.
Hockey needs more profiles and touching stars.
Without profiles and fans, hockey becomes lame and bland.
SHL needs more Joel Lundqvist.
It immediately hit me as I sat in the press box at Tegera Arena and walked over to the lineup that may be the last time I’ll see Joel Lundqvist play hockey live. He has stated that he will retire after the season and the feeling now is that Frölunda will not be playing much longer until this spring.
And Joel’s decision is very correct, and wise. For him and us who love hockey. He turned 41 last Thursday and the hockey clock is ticking for him. It will be slower and worse, and not many people will be able to achieve this. Most people play one season too much or too long.
Enter Joel.
He leads the indoor scoring league and will definitely win it. He is very passionate about all the games and still wants to. It’s unbelievable that after the many games in the SHL he’s played and not played three seasons in the NHL, he would have retired and probably had the most SHL records of all time.
Against Leksand, Joel started to play power and play box with Frolunda. And when it was an all-important tie, Roger Ronberg stomped the veteran onto the ice, thanked Joel for the confidence, and scored a 0-4 goal in the last period. Yes, he also had his famous talks with both the main referee and the assistant referee about interpretations, sequences and the feel of the match. I don’t have a problem with Joel doing that. Shows commitment to being present and alive.
But what makes Joel bigger than anything I’ve mentioned is the winner’s skull. and emotional expressions. stubbornness. How does it touch the ice?
“will not happen”
It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Cooper test in the summer, which he finishes in an incredible 10.25, or Oscarshamn at home in November. Joel’s eyes are as blazing and focused as they have been over the years.
And without the highlights or the stars, those who are recognized and most admired, the magic of ice hockey and the SHL disappears. There must be players who are annoyed by the opposing fans and maybe a little bit fan too. There must be audience idols in Scandinavia and I wonder if the people of Gothenburg will get a player of the same stature or level of celebrity as Joel Lundqvist. Having trouble seeing it. Or rather – it will not happen.
The reason he has been able to play more than 40 titles and manage to manage one of Sweden’s biggest clubs is because of his need to control almost everything. He can get opinions on everything from the way the bus rides to the games to details in the locker room. He has also chosen not to use social media so as not to be too affected by the violent temper on certain platforms.
When I think of the team leaders in the SHL, the names Johan Davidson and Jurgen Johnson come up. Jürgen was captain for eight seasons at Färjestad and Davidson reached eleven seasons with a C on his jersey. They stand up to Frölunda’s super-captain. Joel was the captain of the team for 14 full seasons (!) and was the locomotive in the Frölunda dynasty with four SM golds and several Champions Hockey League titles. A deeper look at Joel’s track record also leads to a whopping three World Cup gold medals, so look for ways to win – a captain can do that.
I will miss Joel Lundqvist on the ice and at the microphone. He always gives solid and honest answers, always standing up for his team in success and what can be very difficult – in adversity.
The only stain on Joel’s cup, otherwise very shiny and dignified, may have been the shape of Frölunda over time. Despite the win away to Leksand. The last 15 is actually the worst in the class and I can’t expect Lundqvist to be forced to finish by lifting Le Mat this spring.