Ice hockey: Skellefteå is Swedish champion – takes the first SM gold in ten years

After winning two straight games away from home in Ängelholm, it was all set for a gold party in Västerbotten.

And Skellefteå took the chance and scored the first match ball.

Andreas Johnson became the game winner after making it 1-0 in the second period. Johnson was given open space to ride and made no mistakes when he fired in the slot.

Skellefteå dominated the game and won the shootout 40-19. Rögle were never actually admitted. Max Lindholm put the nail in the coffin with 2-0 in an empty net.

“Waited for it all my life”

– There have been injuries to every single bastard. I can’t believe we’re standing here, says a crying Andreas Johnson to TV4 Play.

The SM gold is the team’s fourth in total and the first in ten years since defeating Färjestad in 2014. It is also the first time yellow and black have secured it at home.

– I have been waiting for this all my life. This group deserves a gold. It’s so damn good. Finally we get to win, says Pär Lindholm, who personally won his first gold after five SM silvers.

Rögle disappointment: “Belief in winning gold”

Rögle thus takes SM silver as the ninth-placed team in the regular season. The Skåne team knocked out both Färjestad and Växjö with 4-0 in matches in both match series on the way to the final.

– Hard to be happy right now. Since the season started, we have believed in winning SM gold, even though it was difficult before. We will not get up to par today at all, says Rögle’s Daniel Zaar to SVT Sport.

The text is updated.

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