Photo: Bildbyrån
This summer, the former Timrå and HV71 goalkeeper Boo Ahl died, only 54 years old.
Now his son Filip comes forward and talks about the tough time after his father’s death.
– He has meant so much to me throughout my life, his whole way of thinking and how positive he was as a person, he tells Expressen.
The goalkeeper Boo Ahl was a real legend in the elite series. He won SM gold with HV71 in both 1995 and 2004. In addition, he managed to bring Timrå up to the top series in 2000. On August 8 this year, he tragically passed away, aged 54, during a holiday trip.
– It is an extremely heavy message that we have received. Bosse was loved by the HV fans and a fantastic valued and liked employee. We will remember him fondly and for the caring person he was. Our thoughts go out today to the family, said Richard Nylinclub director in HV71, in a statement.
“Night black for me”
Now the months have passed and his son Philip Ahlice hockey player in Slovakian HK Dukla Trencin, now talks about what it was like after the father passed away completely unexpectedly. The 27-year-old explains to Expressen how it happened when he received the news that his father was no longer around. It was Boo’s fiancee Lise-Lott who called him.
– It is difficult. I don’t remember much from that day, it just became night black for me. I can’t really describe how I felt because everything just stopped. My father, the security I always had in life, was no longer there. It just became a big void. It just blacked out. I am very happy that my fiancee managed to come down to Slovakia. She came here the day before we found out what had happened to Dad. It was very nice to have her close then, he says.
Philip’s fiancee Felicia and their dog Ozzy flew to Sweden a few days later, when he received the club’s permission to go. He was at home with his family in Jönköping for just over a week before he felt that he wanted to return to his everyday life in his new home country, in order to digest the tragic events that had taken place.
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– Then I felt that I needed to go back to Slovakia, father had wanted it. He had wanted me to continue my career because he knew that I am at my best when I can train, play and keep going. We only went back home again when there was a funeral. It was a great funeral. It is, like everything else during this period, quite blurry, but I remember it as very nice. It was exactly as dad would have wanted it, I think, says Filip Ahl.
Got a lot of love
He tells us that he is extremely grateful that so many people got in touch and sent such nice and supportive messages and calls. His family, fiancee and friends have truly been there for him. Even the father’s old playing buddies, material managers and people within the clubs Boo Ahl played have extended their hands.
Filip has not only lost his father. He has also lost his best friend, his mentor and coach. Now he tries to live and do the things he knows his father would have wanted him to do.
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– He has been everything to me. It will be very difficult to describe our relationship, because everyone has their relationship with their father, I understand, but he has always steered me in the right direction, got me back on track. When it was windy, he stood firm and helped me. My whole self is shaped by my father. He has meant so much to me throughout my life, his whole way of thinking and how positive he was as a person, says Filip.
This is incredibly tragic. Boo Ahl was a great player who was liked by many. A true Elitserie icon that we will remember for a long time.
So brave that you dare and want to tell, Filip. All thoughts are with you and the family.
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