When team captain Jonathan Pudas had lifted the Le Mat trophy in the home arena and celebrated with the team after the final victory over Rögle, he handed it over to Martin Lundberg.
Lundberg rode to the standing section amid great cheers and then took a lap of honor around the arena.
"Fantastic, it gives you the shivers when the whole stadium is standing and jumping. It's really fun to win on a Saturday afternoon, too," he says.
“Difficult to take in”
He now has six Swedish Championship gold medals, one more than a quartet of legends, including Jörgen Jönsson and Challe Berglund, since the start of the SHL/Elitserien in 1975-76.
"It's hard to take in," says an emotional Lundberg.
So what makes him the top winner?
"I hate losing more than I love winning. It's a hell of a driving force," he says as he stands with his gold helmet pressed down over his head.
His career could have been over when he and his family moved home last summer after eight years in Växjö, and three Swedish Championship gold medals.
He trained as a firefighter and kept going during the fall in case the opportunity came. When it finally came, it was like a bolt from the blue.
“Not decided”
"It came from one day to the next. It was a given to say yes, not have to move anywhere, stay with the family in town and have the opportunity to win," says the physical, energetic forward who was credited with a goal and an assist during the playoffs.
Now, just like with Växjö, he has three Swedish Championship gold medals with Skellefteå. That's one more than his parent club in Västerbotten, which has now secured its fifth Swedish Championship gold medal.
The perfect ending - or will there be a sequel?
"I haven't really decided yet. For now we'll enjoy the celebration."
These players have won the most Swedish Championship gold medals in modern times:
6 gold:
Martin Lundberg, Skellefteå/Växjö, 2013, 14, 18, 21, 23, 26.
5 gold:
Challe Berglund, Djurgården, 1989, 90, 91, 2000, 01.
Mikael Johansson, Djurgården, 1989, 90, 91, 2000, 01.
Jörgen Jönsson, Färjestad, 1997, 98, 2002, 06, 09.
Peter Nordström, Färjestad, 1997, 98, 2002, 06, 09.
