PHOTO: Bildbyrån + Facebook
Joel Lundqvist has decided to end his hockey career.
The 40-year-old’s departure has aroused strong feelings around hockey Sweden.
And now Frölunda’s club icon explains why he made the tough decision.
There have been a total of 20 seasons in the Frölunda jersey, of which 14 seasons as team captain for the club in his heart. But now it is clear that this year’s season will also be the very last for the club icon Joel Lundqvist.
Joel’s farewell
The 40-year-old made the decision on Tuesday to end his hockey career and after the current season is over, it’s goodbye for the “Captain of the Captains”. Lundqvist can proudly show off 3 WC golds with Tre Kronor, 4 SM golds and 4 CHL titles as well as over 1,000 matches with Frölunda.
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Now the SHL veteran talks openly about the tough decision and why he chooses to put the skates on the shelf.
– It has been a process during the season here, where you have pondered and thought to try to look ahead about how you feel about the future. Then I have landed in the fact that I feel ready after this season. The next step is to be super-tagged for what is left, he says in an official TV interview with Frölunda, which you can see below.
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Honest words
On Tuesday morning, Joel Lundqvist told the news to the whole team in the dressing room and it became extremely emotional for everyone involved.
– It was emotional, of course. There are a lot of emotions to deal with and you haven’t told that many people. It’s a lot to handle for yourself and for many people you have a relationship with. It was felt, but it was also nice to be honest in the situation about how you see and feel about things, admits Frölunda’s club icon.
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Now the 40-year-old will try to enjoy the last time as a professional ice hockey player and the very last games as team captain for Frölunda.
– It feels very inspiring to have 10 games left and a playoff to go. The feeling that you are entering the most important part of the season is very inspiring and of course with the situation that I myself am in now, I am tough and really have to go all the way now, he says in the interview, see below.
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