Brian O'Neill scored two goals in the third period when the home team decided the match and pulled away.
The Norrbotten team has played in the top league for 41 years in a row, but has – despite often being part of the top teams – stood there with its only SM gold from 1996.
Above all, the bitter loss against Färjestad – despite home advantage in the seventh and decisive final – has lingered for three years.
No wonder the expectations of the second SM gold were enormous when the team had a match ball at home.
This time, the dream came true in the hockey-crazy town.
"Incredible joy"
Profile Linus Omark, 38 years old, finally won gold with his heart's club.
Wow, he says to TV4.
Incredible joy, of course, but relief. Fantastic, we've worked hard all year. Extremely proud of the guys.
When the final signal went off in the Coop Norrbotten arena, an ecstatic joy erupted, and supporters quickly came out onto the ice to celebrate with the team.
In the midst of the chaos, coach Thomas "Bulan" Berglund was interviewed, who was also part of the gold team in 1996 – then as a player.
It was about time. It's incredibly nice, we've fought for this for so long, he says to TV4 and praises the players:
Incredibly good team, good guys, winners all the way.
The Goal King Equalized
Brynäs was forced to win to secure a seventh and decisive final at home.
The guests took the lead through captain Johan Larsson, but Luleå turned it around in front of a singing and rocking home crowd.
The Goal King Pontus Andreasson equalized to 1–1 with his twelfth goal in the playoffs.
Then, defenseman Marcus Hardegård loaded the big cannon and scored 2–1 in numerical superiority past Erik Källgren, who replaced Ludvig Persson in the Brynäs goal.
This after defenseman Charles-Edouard D'Astous took an unnecessary roughing penalty for getting into a fight with Luleå's Markus Nurmi after the whistle.
"Nice to have"
In the second period, Luleå took another step closer to a long-awaited gold party when Brendan Shinnimin made it 3–1 after catching his own rebound.
In the third period, Luleå opened up – after just 43 seconds, the curtain was drawn for Brynäs.
This time, Brian O'Neill scored himself, finishing from a narrow angle, and 4–1 was a fact.
"The gold is going home to Norrbotten", chanted the Luleå crowd, a fact that was reinforced when the same O'Neill scored 5–1 just over two minutes later.
Brynäs took a timeout and reduced through Theo Lindstein.
But no closer than that did Brynäs get to ruining the home party.
2025: Luleå.
2024: Skellefteå.
2023: Växjö.
2022: Färjestad.
2021: Växjö.
2020: The playoffs were cancelled due to covid-19.
2019: Frölunda.
2018: Växjö.
2017: HV71.
2016: Frölunda.
Final 1: Brynäs–Luleå 2–1 after overtime.
Final 2: Brynäs–Luleå 2–5.
Final 3: Luleå–Brynäs 5–1.
Final 4: Luleå–Brynäs 3–5.
Final 5: Brynäs–Luleå 2–6.
Final 6: Luleå–Brynäs 5–2.
On the way to the final, Luleå knocked out Växjö (4–1 in the quarterfinal) and Frölunda (4–2 in the semifinal).
