HockeyAllsvenskan - The Good and The Bad

We are reaching the end of the normal season and Hockeyallsvenskan will be divided in qualification leagues at either end of the table. Even though there are still a few games to go with some very important matches to be played, I'll take a look at the surprises and disappointments of the league.

The Biggest Surprises

1. Bofors IK
   The team has really improved over the last few seasons. For first making themselves known as the most boring/negative team in the country who were  only surviving because of the loan players from Färjestad, Bofors has become an attractive team to watch and still being very hard to break down. A fantastic start of the season has bee cancelled out by the inevitable 'blip'. A small squad that is very sensitive to injuries has been their undoing. If they can keep the prominent players in the team for next season and add some width, they will be very strong indeed.
2. Almtuna IS
   Another team that has been working hard, just away from the spotlight of the bigger teams. Jonas Rönnqvist and Bert Robertsson has worked purposefully with the team and have every player and every unit working for each other. And it's working well. Automatic qualification to Kvalserien is a real prossibility.
3. AIK
   Some might be surprised I am putting AIK, who had a fantastic season last year on my surprises list. Well, I disagree - and this page is my universe, so I can do what I want. AIK did have a fantastic season last year, but I suspected they would be exposed  after the great season they had last year. Their success was built on a solid defence but with Dick Tärnström getting one year older (read 'one year slower'),  and their new signings looking distinctly average, I thought their time would be up. I was right. 'Dicken' is one year slower, and the signings have not been as successful as some would have thought. What has happened is that the other team members have stepped up. A lot. Players like Bång, Sandberg and Gynge are now undoubtedly among the best in the division and would arguably be an asset to any team in elitserien. However, I don't think it will be enough to get promoted, especially since the team still mixes great performances with outright embarrassing ones, but in Kvalserien anything can happen.
   
   
   

This is the way to do it Rönnqvist style. Amazingly it seems to work...

...and the disappointments

1. Björklöven
   The club is once again dragged into the relegation battle. The name, the history and the budget is for a team fighting at the other end of the table, but something has gone seriously wrong in Umeå. Should the club manage to stay in Allsvenskan at the end of the season, I expect to see some major changes with more than a few heads rolling. But at the moment that is a big 'should' that needs to be resolved before thinking about anything else.
2. Västerås IK
   Again a club that were not only looking to challenge for Kvalserien, but to get there as a top 3 team. Nothing has been wrong with the budget or the resources - there can really be no excuses for the failure. As the results have improved over the last few weeks, will it be enough to secure coaches Claes Lindbom's and Fredik Nilsson's contract for next year. I seriously doubt it.
3. Leksands IF
   It's hard to argue this case with the club looking at its third consecutive top spot finish in AS, but I think there are some major issues in the club this season compared to before. The team largely consists of a top division squad, but the public has been treated to division 3 hockey. The lack of ability to kill off a game and to dominate teams seem odd considering the large budget. Will it be enough to go to Elitserien? Not until they learn to beat teams like Borås anyway.

Västerås cutting costs

Västerås IK has seemingly started cutting costs as the team looks unlikely to qualify for the play-offs. VIK is currently 17 points off the all important 7th position, and with only 14 games left of the league, a miracle would be needed to grab a play-off spot. This has become a season to quickly forget as the team was aiming for a top three position. They have now released Carl Corazzini who only got eight games in the black and yellow jersey and somewhat disappointingly only scored one goal. Their other North American player, Christian Larivee remains with the team, at least for the time being.

...and don't come back!

Timo Leionen, who was expected to be the first choice goalkeeper in Leksand also seem destined to be shown the door. Canadian netminder Tom Lawson has been signed from KHL outfit Sibir Novisibirsk as a backup for Joacim Eriksson. This means the team has now filled the quota of two non-EU players.

Yetman leaves Västerås

It would seem that Patrick Yetman has made his last appearance in VIK's black and yellow jersey. When he signed, he only signed until the christmas break with the option of continuing if both parties so wanted. Västerås has apparently signed Carl Corazzini on a try-out contract, and with teams being limited to two non-european players on the bench, it seems likely either Christian Larrivee or Patrick Yetman is heading away. Larrivee is still under contract - so guess who's it might be.

Even more interestingly, where is he headed?

Västerås in free-fall

Things go from bad to catastrophic at Västerås. In the last six games, the team has managed to add a paltry four points to their tally, putting them eleven points behind Bofors, who currently occupies the last play-off spot. The club has ambitions to at least make the play off, but the way things are going they might just have to watch their back. The loss of Niklas Olausson and Pär Arlbrandt to Luleå has proven to be very detrimental. In addition their goalkeepers are looking very shakey at the moment, Johan Thalberg who has been a consistent performer over the last few seasons, now seem to have caught a rare form of I'm-shitting-myself-everytime-I-get-on-the-ice-itis. Add to that a complete inability to create chances, convert them or to defend, you get the scope of the problems faced at VIK Hockey.

Yeti likes ice!

The only glimpse of light in the proverbial tunnel is that Christian Larrivée is injured. Correct, that is a positive! At least they have one player worth his pay - once he gets back they might stand an outside chance or grabbing a few well needed points. VIK recently signed Patrik Yetman, even though he is a very good player (too good for this level?), he has not been on the ice for eight months. Things are getting desperate indeed.

Boork hints at Västerås

In an internet fans-forum, Leif Boork has hinted he'd be interested in taking over as head-coach in Västerås IK. The former coach/tv-expert/knowitall has not had a job since the HockeyAllsvenska broadcasts from TV4 was taken over by Viasat at the end of last season. He says he's doubtful they'd contact him and I admit I'd also be very surprised if they did. He hasn't had a proper job in ice hockey for quite some time (TV work does not count in this respect, sorry) but according to what he said at the end of last season ago when Leksand was looking for someone to rescue their qualification the top tier after getting rid of Kempe/Jonsson, he said he was way too expensive for them. As VIK is know to have a much more restricive enconomy than LIF, it's hard to see how they could possibly afford him even if they did want him. However, I don't think he's the type for VIK, even though he might actually be the right man for the job. He's made his name as a fantastic team-builder with an old-school authoritarian management style. Not forgetting he's a bit of a live wire...

The Boork

VIK could do with someone to shape the team they currently have, and for Boork it is a club in a perfect situation; capable players that are currently getting the basics wrong on the ice. We've seen Boork come in to do rescue missions before (Brynäs IF was the last example), a bigger challenge would however be to in principle set up an entirely new team and work for a promotion rather than to come in as a fireman to rescue the situation. However, I don't think VIK will ask him as the board so far have seemed to prefer a younger 'new' style coach in the team. Although Boork could actually be more of the type they need. But then again, the TV sofa is more comfortable than the bench.