Andersson chucks his toys out of the pram

Peter Andersson, coach at Örebro Hockey after being chased out from Malmö last lseason, has done it again. Yeah, he's still rubbish - but where's the news in that? No, this time he's once and for all proven just what a spoilt knob-head he is.

Following Almtuna's deciding 3-2 goal last week, Andersson thought in his infinite wisdom, that he'd demonstrate 'how unfairly we get treated by the referees' by chucking a water bottle at the linesman. Needless to say, he was sent to the dressing room and is awaiting a verdict of further suspension from the disciplinary committee.

Now, who's the baby?

He's now firmly joined the other two mentally unstable coaches in the league - Växjö's Janne Karlsson and Leksand's Leif Strömberg. However, in all fairness, it should be mentioned that he has agreed to pay compensation for the broken water bottle.

Rats angered by chicken

The weathered AIK supporters like giving it large, but apparently can not stand it when they get some back. Örebro's new signing, former Djurgården player Markus Kristoffersson proves hockey players do have a sense of humour as he is led to the dressing room. The reaction of the travelling supporters might not be unexpected, but still completely uncalled for. Personally, I think it's a great wind-up. More of this please!

Check the run-up to the incident (immediately) and the incident itself (aprox. 1.25 into the clip).

Round Up: Mora on fire!

Mora IK took thir ninth (!) consecutive win when they ripped apart Malmö on away ice. The final result was 4-1 to the guests. Mora is now in the final automatic qualification spot for Kvalserien. Harald Lückner has done a brilliant job with this young team and has surprised most experts with their performance of late. Malmö on the other hand has shown very patchy form lately and needs to improve if they are to avoid having to go through the play offs for a place in Kvalserien. It might help that they are finally getting rid of goal tender Jani Hurme who has not only been one of the most expensive players in the league, but also a complete liability once he has been on the ice. A reported salary of around SEK 310.000/month is now taken away from the expenses account at Redhawks. I'd happily open a door for a few days per month for 3x20 minutes for less than that. Percy, call me!

Good bye and thank you for the fish!

In the mid-season final, injury hit Leksand beat Växjö comprehensively with 8-3. This will give LIF a little bit of breathing space at the summit. Off the ice rumours are rife the club is about to sign a forward (center?) of some some statue. As always with Leksand in the rumour mill, more or less realistic names are branded around. Suffice to say, one the day arrives, we shall all find out.

In the fight for the play off spots, Bofors secured in important result by grabbing the extra point following a penalty shoot out at Borås. Borås  now has six points up to play off place and Bofors are now pleased not to have to feel them breathing down their neck.

At the other end of the table, Sunsvall lost important points after ending up on the wrong side of a 6-3 score at Björklöven and Oskarshamn looks on the money for relegation after losing at home against demotion rivals Troja/Ljungby 3-0.

There is still much to go of the season, but the table seems to divide up in clear sections. However, any team getting on a streak like Mora is currently would quickly move up the table. One thing is for sure, the league is tighter than it has ever been and teams keep dropping and taking points from each other like never before. Is this a sign of the strength of the league, or is it because the top teams are weaker than in recent years? I guess we will find out in Kvalserien.

Lihagen's life saved by referee

In the derby between Bofors and Örebro yesterday, Niklas Lihagen fell to the ice after what seemed an innocuous incident. The referee noticed the Örebro forward remaining on the ice after play continued elsewhere and stopped the game immediately. Lihagen was unconcious and had no pulse and would possibly not still be alive, had it not been for referee Wolmer Edqvist, a day time ambulance driver, who started resuscitation immidiately. Ambulance arrived on the ice after a few minutes and Lihagen is now in intensive care, but said to feel fine.

But in all this, Bofors supporters were chanting 'Let him die' and 'Get the corpse off the ice'. This is by no means surprising as their vocal supporters are generally kids who are just finding their first pubic hairs. They had a bad reputation before, but this is taking them to a new low. Sadly enough, inbreeding just got a bad name.

Also, while hockey is the love of my life (along with Mrs LondonMas of course), this really puts things in perspective. I've been known to shout abuse at referees and players alike, but here we have a man who steps up to the plate when needed. All respect to Wolmer Edqvist.

 

This doesn't mean I won't shout abuse at him next time he referees a game I'm watching.