Emile Larme could become the first goalkeeper to win the Stefan Lev Memorial Trophy.
During the World Cup qualifiers, the 26-year-old Finn swam around the goal line, giving a big smile as he took off his goalkeeper mask and broke the goalkeeper’s stick into small sticks.
– I love it, getting to the final in front of these noisy arenas was all little Emil could dream of in Finland, he says.
All the people of Småland should shout Eeeeeemiiiiiiil!
We have a new Småland Emil after him in Lönneberga.
Emile Larme stole the club from his compatriot Petteri Lindbom in Frolunda and returned it to the penalty booth after the club’s tape was torn off.
He tried to hide the club from Joel Lundqvist, which, of course, the veteran didn’t.
– I was quieter and kinder than Emil Lönneberga when I was a child, there wasn’t much fuss. Nowadays, I can recognize myself in it, I make up for it, says Emile Larme.
Encourages physical duels
A recurring scene during the SM Finals is how Skellefteå pushes a lot of players into the goal and the ball bounces around the goal line and the posts.
Emile Larmey now swims across the field to save pucks in the most mysterious way possible.
– Skellefteå is clearly trying to squeeze close to me at the finish line. For my part, I like this type of game very much. I like when players come up to me and it becomes a physical game. When there’s a lot of pucks going around and there’s a lot of emotion, it’s easier for me to play my best. I’m enjoying the moment, says Emile Larmey.
Partially he is an entertaining and amazing player with his lively gameplay and quick reaction.
He’s a player with plenty of charisma, a big smile beaming away when he takes off his goalkeeper mask at every stoppage in play.
Hockey is so much fun. It’s a great honor to be able to play the final in front of noisy arenas and fans in both Växjö and Skellefteå, and then enjoy myself better. Little Emile would be jealous of me now, says Emile Larmey.
He had a mental breakdown with the club
After losing 3-2 in overtime in the third last game at home, Emile Larmé took out his anger on the decisive late goal on the goalkeeper’s stick.
In a fit of rage, the cabaret was reduced to mere sticks and shards.
Emotions belong in ice hockey, and that’s the best part. It was an old hammer, I don’t need it anymore. Sometimes it happens like this. It’s part of me and part of my style. It may not make such a clever impression, says Emile Larmey, but sometimes it works.
The goalkeeper stepped in when Simon Robertson decided to get expert Peter Ronqvist to criticize Émile Larme on Cmore radio: “It looks like he’s waiting for the bus.”
– I didn’t hear that. He is absolutely right. I just felt as if I was waiting for the bus. It’s part of the sport and its magic, sometimes you’re a winner and sometimes you’re a loser. It makes winning and revenge even better. There will be new matches and it is important to forget what happened. And it is done. There are always situations in which I should have done differently, says Emile Larme.
The Växjö keeper got revenge in a big way in winning 4-1 in game four in Skellefteå.
In the second match in Västerbotten before, he had kept a clean sheet.
Växjö has a 3-1 in matches in SC’s best of seven series final against Skellefteå.
On Monday evening, Växjö can celebrate SM gold in front of their sold-out home yard.
The Stefan Lev Memorial Trophy is awarded to the player deemed the most valuable player in the SHL playoffs.