September and premiere for a new season in SHL ice hockey. A time when all dreams are still intact.
It's of course way too early to say anything about how it will all end in the spring, but Färjestad and Rögle are two teams with high ambitions.
For the Karlstad team, it started in the best way: with a hot goal scorer and a turnaround to victory against the spring's SM-finalist Rögle, 4–3 after penalties. The same team that eliminated Färjestad with 4–0 in matches in the quarterfinals.
I liked our patience. We kept our calm. Credit to us. Rögle is a good team. They went to the final, are effective, strong, and fast, says four-goal shooter David Tomasek.
Exciting newcomers
More exciting than the result in the first match is perhaps the new acquisitions and a first hint of how they will function in their new environment.
Oskar Steen, back in Färjestad after five seasons in North America, was spurred on by the atmosphere and his line mate Viktor Lodin, from Oskarshamn, showed that his physique will strengthen Färjestad and irritate opponents.
In Rögle, Leon Bristedt, back in the club after two seasons in Switzerland, got two assists and Jacob Peterson, who spent three years on the other side of the Atlantic, a passing point.
But most shone Tomasek.
The Czech scored 25 goals last season.
Now the spring's World Champion is on his way to 208. Or?
Cool but crazy. Sometimes it goes well in life, but I try to be humble. It's of course special, but next match it's someone else who scores the goals.
Had a goal in him
Tomasek didn't hesitate when he got the chance to score the decisive penalty, despite missing his first in the penalty shootout.
Tomas (Mitell, coach) wondered if I had a goal in me. I said yes. I had a good feeling, says the 28-year-old.
Färjestad's first goalie Max Lagacé got injured and left with 55 seconds remaining of overtime. Replacement Damian Clara, new from Brynäs, saved three of four Rögle penalties.
For Rögle and Leon Bristedt, it ended in a minor key, despite a 3–1 lead with five minutes remaining of the third period.
We play pretty good hockey for 58 minutes. Then we must of course learn to win. It stings that we mess it up, says the new acquisition.
