PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Joel Lundqvist is doing his second year as a TV expert at TV4.
While Roger Rönnberg is doing his last year as coach in Frölunda.
Now Lundqvist gives his verdict on the former coach’s departure to the SHL.
After a long and successful hockey career took Joel Lundqvist farewell and put the skates on the shelf last year. But there was no rest and long vacation for the Frölunda profile for that – instead he stepped straight into the TV box.
Lundqvist in TV4
Lundqvist jumped straight into a job as a TV expert in TV4 and refused to leave hockey behind. Instead, he analyzed and assessed old opponents and fellow players live during the SHL matches.
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After the debut season in the TV channel, an expanded role awaits the 42-year-old in the coming year. Then the TV4 colleague Niklas Wikegård accepted and taken over as sports manager in Djurgården, Joel will instead get the chance to get out into the arenas and stand on the ice.
Joel about Roger
Next SHL season will also be Roger Rönnberg’s very last as coach in Frölunda, together with Joel Lundqvist, the duo reaped great success for the club for many years. Now the former team captain gives his verdict on Rönnberg’s last season.
– I mean, they were one victory away from the final last year. It is clear that they will build on some things and have surely analyzed what was missing. It was a bit of a mess after game seven and maybe they matched the team differently. Then they had a good dividend at Innala and Strömwall, which have disappeared, so it is important that the new gang that comes in gets delivery. But as always, it feels like an incredibly even league. It’s just a matter of getting things rolling, says Joel to Hockeynews.
– You looked at Rögle last year, who were a few weeks away from the qualifiers and they made things happen and spin the right way and then you are in the final. That’s what it’s all about when it’s so even. Everyone has such good conditions and there is not much difference. It is necessary to develop in certain parts. The big ones are goaltending, special teams and maybe the hard play in a playoff that you get to that.
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Rönnberg obviously hopes to end the 12-year stay in Frölunda with one last SM gold. But Lundqvist unfortunately crushes that dream and does not see the team in his heart as one of the gold favorites.
– For me, Färjestad and Skellefteå are at the forefront. Skellefteå has had to keep a lot. Strong center side. Pudas didn’t play much in the playoffs and yet they win there. They will be dangerous for sure, Joel admits in the interview.
– Färjestad probably learned a lot last year from the exodus. They made a good regular season, got to keep Tomasek and have seasoned it further. It looks exciting.
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