ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK / Stockholm. Loss in the seventh decisive final match and remains in hockey Svenskan.
Then the Djurgården players were forced to stay on the ice for twelve minutes – and receive silver medals.
– It will be “a rub in the face,” says Johann Garbenlöf.
At the same time that Modo celebrated the SHL’s promotion with a singing crowd at Hägglunds Arena, it was all the rage in Djurgården.
But the players were not allowed to leave the ice.
They were forced to stay and attend the ceremony where the Modo players were awarded the gold medals – and the Djurgården players the silver medals.
“Nothing we want”
The whole thing elicited strong reactions.
– I think that in this case it is better for the happy team to stay on the ice. I think we should have been allowed into the dressing room. There’s a lot at stake in this game, so you have to stand there and listen to the chants and get a ‘rubbing in the face’… I think they should look into that for next season, says Djurgården head coach Johan Garbenlöf.
How do you feel about getting the silver medals?
A silver medal is not something we want, but they give it and then we have to accept it.
“be very clear”
According to Gabriel Monydel, CEO of the hockey company Allsvenskan, everything was fine.
– We were very clear with both teams before this final and told them exactly what would happen in the event of a potential celebration, what was expected of both teams, application deadlines, etc., he says.
Can you understand their disappointment at having to stay on the ice?
Of course there’s a lot of emotion when you’ve just lost a crucial seventh match with so much at stake. Then there are a lot of feelings, of course I understand that.
Is this something you would rate?
– Absolutely. We review everything after each season and we will now with.
Many people think it is questionable to distribute silver medals?
– We decided jointly with all the clubs three years ago that this is the way we should do it, and so far no team has thought otherwise, except perhaps at this very moment if I say so. But like I said, we review everything we’re doing and then we’ll see if we should do something different next year.
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