VÄXJÖ / Stockholm. Playing “boring hockey” and fans leaving games early.
Växjö has come under fire during qualifying this year.
– I have absolutely no problem with that, says the club’s sporting director Henrik Evertsson.
Växjö again won the Swedish ice hockey championship – for the fourth time in eight years.
Sporting director Henrik Evertsson tested all four gold medalists.
How do you feel about it?
– So you ask this question? It feels incredibly good! It’s great to win this gold medal. It didn’t go smoothly, but they (the players) had to fight all the time. How did the boys fight? I am very proud, says Evertson.
Given the cheerfulness she displays, it seems like this gold means more?
– It may not look like it, but we had to fight the hell out of it. It’s the injuries, the illnesses and the opponents who were in very good shape. We had to fight for that damn gold. And you should have that too.
“Hope you continue to get opinions”
But criticism from the outside has been harsh on the Växjö Lakers during the playoffs this year.
It’s about everything from opinions on how to play to the lack of a real supporter culture and watching fans leaving home games before the final whistle.
But this criticism does not bother Henrik Evertsson.
– I hope they continue to have a lot of opinions. And we’ll keep winning so they can keep thinking we’re boring and all that. He says I have no problem with that at all.
Does it motivate you to do more?
– no. It doesn’t affect me at all.
How do you celebrate this?
– I don’t know … But we’ll probably come up with something.
Read more: Växjö Lakers win SM ice hockey gold in 2023 – beat Skellefteå in the final