Celebrated in front of a packed Scandinavium.
Then the opposing team Rögle took the opportunity to pick Henrik Lundqvist and Frölunda.
That with a really neat banner about the goalkeeper icon.
It had been almost 17 years since Henrik Lundqvist last played a game for Frölunda. It was there that the goaltender got his big break, and where he played before making the leap to the NHL. Later, everyone knows what happened, and how magical the career actually became.
Highly praised
Henrik Lundqvist grew to become the face of the New York Rangers for more than a decade, and for many years he was perhaps the world’s absolute best goalkeeper. He has already had time to have his jersey number retired in New York, and on Wednesday it was time for Henke to be celebrated also on home ground, where it all began; in Gothenburg.
Before the match, all Frölunda players went out with shirt number 35 on their backs, and before the match a film was shown to the audience, with Lundqvist’s best moments from his career. He then got to step onto the ice, and was welcomed by several old teammates and legends, including Niklas Andersson, Tomi Kallio and Magnus Kahnberg. The tribute was powerful, but it was something else that stole the attention for a brief moment.
READ MORE: Henrik Lundqvist’s completely cheeky coup against his brother – completely stole the show: “Is there anything he can’t do?”
The coup of the fans
At the same time that Lundqvist was celebrated with speeches, flowers and other things, a banner was unfurled from the away crowd in Scandinavium. There was a picture of Henrik Lundqvist, in a Rögle shirt, with the text: “He has the heart in Rögle”.
It is based on the fact that Lundqvist actually played in Rögle before Frölunda, as a junior.
– Haha, it was a bit funny that this was against Rögle. I had some fantastic years there on the youth side and got a fantastic foundation. Of course they have a part of my heart too, it was a lovely time, says Lundqvist himself about the whole thing, to Aftonbladet.
The audience in Scandinavium did not fully appreciate the girl, however, as scattered boos were heard around the arena in connection with it. Henrik Lundqvist was satisfied with the evening, and did not boast about how much Frölunda meant to him afterwards.
– I played at the club for seven years, but I was already a fan growing up. Frölunda have been so incredibly good at making me feel like part of the club, I’ve really felt like I’m with them. And I’ve seen so many Frölunda jerseys in New York over the years, and that support has been mutual. It has been a special relationship, and that support has meant a lot to me.
READ MORE: Tomas Brolin reveals the toughest man he has met – knocks Maldini, Baresi and Maradona(!): “He was rock hard”