Christian Bäckman’s shirt now hangs more from the ceiling in Scandinavium.
During Saturday, the Frölunda profile was celebrated.
– There are a lot of emotions on a day like this that fly through the body, said Bäckman.
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During his career, Christian Bäckman played 581 games in the Frölunda shirt. Up front, he accounted for 61 goals and 132 assists.
The defender also had time for a turn to the NHL, where it lasted seven seasons and he represented the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues. In total, there were 301 games in the NHL.
For Tre Kronor, Bäckman made 72 international appearances and helped win Olympic gold in 2006.
On Saturday, he was celebrated in Scandinavium before the relegation between Frölunda and HV71 and had his shirt with number 5 raised to the ceiling.
Emotional tributes
It was a tearful Christian Bäckman who entered the ice to applause and singing from the Frölunda supporters.
Joel Lundqvist paid tribute to Bäckman with a speech and then handed over to a series of video greetings from Henrik Lundqvist, Oliver Bohm and Mathis Olimb.
Christian Bäckman struggled to hold back tears when he got the word.
– I have received so much love and warmth that it is hard to take in, sometimes I think I only played hockey but yes. There are a lot of emotions on a day like this that fly through the body. I miss someone, I feel that every time I’m here in Scandinavium.
Bäckman continues:
– I feel an even greater joy to receive these congratulations and tributes. An immense joy and gratitude for what hockey has given me. Today I feel a sense of pride in what I have achieved.
Bäckman also highlighted his best memory from his career and that was the SM gold in 2005 with Frölunda.
Criticism of the criteria
Before the shirt lifting, TV4’s expert, Petter Rönnqvist, to some extent criticized Frölunda’s criteria for a player to have his shirt lifted.
– I can consider that an Olympic or World Cup gold is completely unimportant for a club if you have a culture bearer in the team who pulls his team season in and season out. I can also think that a SM gold. Should it be a criterion?, said Rönnqvist in the broadcast.
Frölunda’s criteria for a lifted sweater
• 3 years grace period.
• At least 10 active seasons.
• Won the Olympics or WC.
• SM gold with Frölunda’s A team.
• Extremely important for the association’s history.