After 29 years of waiting, Luleå finally got to celebrate their second Swedish Championship gold in history.
It shouldn't take as long until the next one.
Now we want to win again, so that's the goal. There shouldn't be a problem with that motivation. We have many who are staying, the trainers are staying, so it looks good for the future, says sports manager Thomas Fröberg.
He came to Luleå before this season, replaced fired Stefan "Shadow" Nilsson and won directly.
It's few who are privileged, it has been brutal.
"Has been skilled"
The team's big star Linus Omark, 38 years old, announced directly after the final signal against Brynäs that he had done his part in Luleå.
But Fröberg hasn't given up hope for a continuation:
He says so much that boy. He fills a function, he has been skilled.
But there won't be any persuasion campaign.
No, it has to come from within, now he has done what he came for. We'll see how it becomes, says Fröberg.
Success defender Frédéric Allard, 27, won the scoring league and was named the MVP of the playoffs. He is a top priority to keep and Fröberg sees good opportunities:
He knows that we want to keep him. It's about him getting to digest this a bit.
Popular forward Brendan Shinnimin also has an expiring contract, and Expressen has reported that the parties have a verbal agreement on an extension.
Otherwise, Luleå has many players on contract for next season and new additions are on their way in.
Thousands celebrated
After the celebration in the home arena, the team made an unplanned stop in the city park where thousands of people had assembled.
The city's pubs and bars were filled to the brim with victorious supporters, many dressed in match jerseys, and the mood was on top.
The party will continue for a long time and a larger celebration will take place on the southern harbor square on Saturday at 2 pm, writes the municipality on its website.
Coach Thomas "Bulan" Berglund entered an exclusive club of seven people who have won the Swedish Championship gold as both player and coach.
This is what we wanted. The whole team has delivered so damn well on what we wanted all year, says he.
"Bulan" praises Linus Omark:
A fantastic career. He has helped us enormously, not least when we were down against Frölunda with 2–1 and we pulled out the goalkeeper, then he made two goals. He saved us in that series, says he.
Mats Waltin (1983 and 1990 as player, 2000 and 2001 as head coach).
Harald Lückner (1981, 1986 and 1988 as player, 2007 as head coach).
Kent Johansson (1983 and 1990 as player, 2008 as head coach).
Tommy Samuelsson (1981, 1986, 1988 as player, 2009 and 2011 as head coach).
Johan Lindbom (1995 as player, 2017 as head coach).
Jörgen Jönsson (1997, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2009 as player, 2023 as head coach).
Thomas Berglund (1996 as player, 2025 as head coach).
Source: SHL.
