Brynäs is back in hockey’s finest room, that is the SHL. A big congratulations and welcome back. Here is the club’s all-time All Star team.
Brynäs participated in the highest league for the first time back in 1943. The first goalscorer for Brynäs was Gunnar Engblom, who scored in the club’s first match in the highest league. The opposition was Hammarby who won 14-1.
Since then, Brynäs has won no less than 13 SM golds. The first came in 1964 and the most recent as late as 2012. There have been plenty of strong profiles in the team over the years. Outside of my All Star team, we find players such as Lennart “Tigen” Johansson, Inge Hammarström, Ove Molin, Anders “Masken” Carlsson, Johan Holmqvist, Tom Bissett, Stefan “Lill-Prosten” Karlsson, Lennart “Lill-Strimma” Svedberg, Hans “Virus” Lindberg, Stig Östling, Anders Huss, Tommy Sjödin, Andreas Dackell, Nicklas Bäckström, Hasse Dahllöf, Bedrich Scerban, Ryan Gunderson and so on.
William Löfqvist. Photo: File.
In any case, I came to the conclusion that my personal All Star team Brynäs, with a “runner-up” in each position should look as follows:
Goalkeeper
William Löfqvist – Was recruited to Brynäs from “Rallarbo” (Strömsbro) together with a pair of shin guards in 1968. Then he was loyal to the club as a player until 1983. After that he ran Gavlerinken’s restaurant for many years, but was also a leader in Brynäs. In total, “Wille” won six SM golds. William Löfqvist died in 2016.
Runner-up: Michael Sundlöv
Backing
Stig Salming – He has blacker eyes, is an angry Conny Evensson… That’s how another Brynäs player expressed himself about “Stygge-Stigge”. Above all, Stig Salming has made an impression as a back who never stepped aside regardless of who was in front of him. Continued after his playing career as a coach in Brynäs for six seasons. Won six SM golds with Brynäs.
Börje Salming – Perhaps the world’s best back during large parts of the 1970s and 1980s. Stepped in as a big sensation and back partner of big brother Stig in Brynäs in 1970. Totally ruthless with his body when he was on the ice. The NHL career after the time in Brynäs is now legendary where he played 16 seasons in Toronto and one in Detroit. Two SM golds with Brynäs.
Runner-Up: Pär Djoos
Stig and Börje Salming. Photo: Archive and Ronnie Rönnkvist.
Forwards
Tord Lundström – Nestor in Brynäs for many seasons and one of Swedish hockey’s really great players during the 1960s and 70s. Like the Salming brothers from Kiruna. There are also some similarities between them with the attitude and sacrifice for the team when they came out on the rink. Participated in winning the club’s first SM gold in 1964. In total there were nine SM golds with Brynäs.
Mats Näslund – It is rare that an individual player has made such an impression on a SM golden day as “Le petit viking” did in 1980. Completely fearless in the rink even though he was not always as tall as his opponents. In addition, he had a dazzling technique and a game sense that made him one of the best players in the world. A SM gold with Brynäs.
Lars-Göran Nilsson – A personal favorite. The club’s fastest player of all time? Trained his skating on a lake at home in Vuollerim. Instigator, goalscorer and striker in one and the same person. Also had a fine career in Tre Kronor. Eight-time Swedish champion with Brynäs.
Runner-Up: Jakob Silfverberg
Tord Lundström, Mats Näslund and Lars-Göran Nilsson. Photo: Archives and Ronnie Rönnkvist.