In the picture: Karl Helmersson needs a good start after last year’s disaster. Photo: Jamie Jerden, VIK.SE
And on Friday night it explodes in an always uncertain first. VIK will clash with the best team in the series, Björklöven, in Umeå.
VIK and Umeålaget have met frequently in several qualifiers in recent years and despite the geographical distance a certain rivalry has developed.
Here’s a little comparison of the different potential series of the teams:
Front crowns
- Kim Rosedale – Konstantin Komarek – Jacob Hayhurst
- Marcus “Lilys” Nilsson – Jacob Olofsson – Fredrik Forsberg
comment: It’s going to be Star Wars here. There’s been a lot of talk about Lillys and Forsberg, and rightfully so. But expect Komarek and Rosedale to be very eager to steal the spotlight. Is Olofsson ready to overturn last year’s 15 points?
Chains of ducks
- Anton Graden – Simon Cetra – Karl Jacobson
- Fortier-Ottoson-Dower-Nelson
comment: Here, the key to VIK is that this unit can go up. Both Zether and Graden have good pre-season production, but that’s where it stops when compared to the lightning-fast Fortier and the super-skilled Ottosson…
Third strings
- Malte Sjögren – Joel Kant – Oskar Kvist
- Gustav Bosler – Joel Mustonen – Oscar Tillström
comment: Here VIK should at least be able to keep up, as Kant’s run was the best during the pre-season. But Löfven’s third goal is also nice, even if there are no scary shots…
Quadruple series
- Erik Engstrand – Svante Sjodin – Gabriel Kangas (Hammerer)
- Gustav Kangas – Eric Andersen – Kylinen (Osmanis)
comment: Björklöven actually only has 13 strikers in the EP at the moment and that means the former VIK player Kangas will face his brother in the fourth series match. Both Sjodin and Engstrand have finished the pre-season well and are said to be keen to quickly climb the pecking order to compete healthily for VIK.
Good Liiga and SHL deserve fourth place for Leuven to Andersson and Killinen.
***
The first couple is back
- Albert Lycozen – Eric Flood
- Matthias Norstebo-Linus Cronholm
The second rear pair
- Uli Norberg-Noel Fransen
- Matteo Maioni – Alphonse Frigg
The third rear pair
- Henrik Malmstrom – Niklas Volin
- Martin Fransson-Jesper Lindgren
Björklöven has slightly more frequented tracks. But maybe there’s not a sea of difference when you set it up that way, so I’m just a one-eyed Viking?
This also applies to the striker, but then Löfven should also include Theocharidis, Camper (possibly) and Lagerberg on loan. VIK cannot afford a filling like this in the near future.
But as long as VIK is healthy and can continue this winning streak, it could be a good season, like I said.
In terms of special teams, both teams are good, the only question is how close can Vick be to Louvain here?
In the goalkeeping game, Rasmus Korhonen has to be better than Voutilainen/Thelen if we want to get points.
VIK are missing Jimmy Jansson after his recent move, but he should return soon.
***
It was a good sign of health VIK Players in VLT They seem to have a completely different outlook and confidence in their abilities than many of us who named them among the eight. Martin captures it well here in X:
***
Before the match I had the opportunity to exchange a few words with Björklöven expert, Jesper Bjorklund:
– Weak first periods during the entire pre-season for Leuven. The back side is a question mark as Jesper Lindgren is not guaranteed to play and the new Tim Theokaridis has yet to land.
-Jona Voutilainen didn’t impress at all during pre-season and was sick, so my instinct is Melker Thielen vs VIK.
– Strengths in the offensive game in general. If VIK spends too much time in the box, he will expand greatly.
– PP has looked scary good all preseason. Keep an eye on Oscar Tillstrom tomorrow.
– Boxplay is also approved during the pre-season. I think the main key for Björklofen vs Vick is to score a goal relatively early so you have the feeling that things are going well.
– However, Löfven showed great morale during the pre-season and was able to turn the tide of matches regardless of the disadvantage or the image of the match.
– Tomorrow I say 4-1 to Leuven.