Six years ago, Ulf Sterner, the first Swedish-raised player in the North American league NHL, collapsed at home on the farm outside Karlstad when Pia, a pioneer coach in ice hockey, was at work.
After a few weeks of hospital care, Ulf recovered physically but later had problems with his memory. In December 2020, a memory investigation was conducted and it was then established that Ulf has Alzheimer's.
In an interview with NWT published on Thursday evening, the couple talks about life with the disease.
"Had no helmets"
I usually say to you that you would like to have a long syringe and just suck out the crap, says Pia to Ulf, according to the newspaper.
Several former sports stars have over the years been affected by various dementia diseases. Several scientific studies have shown a link between head blows and increased risk of dementia. It is not certain that it is the case in Ulf Sterner's case.
But several around him from that time have gotten the disease. They didn't have helmets back then either, says Pia Sterner.
"Gus" first NHL Swede
Ulf Sterner became both the first Swedish- and European-raised player in the North American league NHL over 60 years ago. As a 23-year-old, the center debuted for New York Rangers at home against Boston in Madison Square Garden in January 1965. The Värmland native, who has played in, among others, Forshaga, Västra Frölunda (now Frölunda), Rögle, and Färjestad in Sweden, also has both Olympic Games and World Championship medals with Tre Kronor.
Pia Sterner, a Gothenburger, previously Grengman, broke new ground as a female coach in a male-dominated sport during the 1960s and 1970s and coached both boys' and men's teams.
Gustaf "Gus" Forslund, who was born in Holmsund in Västerbotten but moved to North America as a one-year-old, became the first Swedish-born player in NHL when he represented Ottawa Senators in the 1932-1933 season.
Corrected version: Ulf Sterner is the first Swedish- and European-raised player in the North American league NHL. Gustaf "Gus" Forslund is the first Swedish-born.
