PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Dick Axelsson is one of Swedish hockey’s great SHL profiles.
Now the 37-year-old is charging for another season in Djurgården.
And then he comes up with a really nice play for Niklas Wikegård.
Many times have Dick Axelsson announced that he is ending his hockey career. The first time came in 2021, but after only six months as a “retiree”, Axelsson was back on the ice again at Djurgården.
Dick’s comeback
He has since played for Brödernas Hockey in division 3 and Väsby IK in Hockeyettan before ending his hockey career again in 2023. Now he is back again with Djurgården.
The article continues below.
The 37-year-old will now help Dif return to Swedish hockey’s fine room again – namely the SHL.
– I never thought they would want me. Especially not when Wikegård said he would rejuvenate the squad. At the time it felt far away, but you should never calculate an age, says Dick in an interview with Expressen.
– The thing about rejuvenating is fucking bullshit. It will depend on the players. I feel like 22 years old.
Axelsson’s words
Axelsson has changed his diet, trained more than ever before and is now in top shape for the unexpected comeback to hockey. But he has had to make certain other sacrifices in order to be able to play in Djurgården again, namely a considerable reduction in salary.
– I have a great salary for not having played for a while, but I have lost many kroner in salary. I’m just happy to get the chance and not doing it for the money at all. In any case, I survive, says Axelsson to the evening newspaper.
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The contract is only written for the coming season, but if Djurgården succeeds in making the step up to the SHL again, Dick hopes for a well-deserved bonus. And now he sends a nice pass to the sporting director Niklas Wikegård.
– Then I hope Wikegård gives me the money I deserve, says Axelsson in the interview and also admits that he wants to accompany the team up to the SHL again.
– Then I’m going to threaten my way into next year’s squad, he says with a laugh.
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