It is 15 years ago an actor from Luleå took the trouble to travel to the small village of Långnäs outside Piteå, in order to visit with the family Grönlund. The purpose of the trip was to attract a talented 15-year-old to ishockeygymnasiet in Luleå.
It was not difficult. This schooling tends to be the natural path to a long and successful hockeykarriär, which not infrequently ends in the country's highest series. But it would prove to be a long and bumpy journey for the teenager. It was only this season that he 29-year-old got his long-awaited contract with an SHL club.
the Player named Anders Grönlund and the coach who came on a visit to his boy's room is Frölundas coach Roger Rönnberg.
– the Circle is closed, " says the now 30-year-old hill, one of the season's surprises in a Frölunda is in the SM-finals for the eleventh time.
during the season. He fits in to perform a little home work and enjoy the summer sun in Göteborg for the big decision.
He tells the story of the long and twisted ishockeyresa he had done. It began in Infjärdens SK at the age of five and that has gone through the 13 clubs, both Swedish and foreign.
Often it has just been a year in each association. New cities, new teammates, new coaches. SHL has always been his goal, but so much closer than when he played for Luleå juniors, and hoped that Roger Rönnberg would give him a chance in the first team, he has not really come. Not until just over a year ago.
It was then Rönnberg blew life into the dream again.
"Roger called me and said that Frölunda had an eye on me during my season in Panther and was a little interested in someone with my style of play," says Grönlund.
Frölundas Anders Grönlund cheering with teammates after the 1-0 goal during the semi-final, five against Luleå. Photo: Simon Eliasson/Bildbyrånthat raised hopes, but as he heard no more at two months and began to doubt that they really were interested. Then he took matters into his own hands. Instead of asking the agent told the giants he hit himself a signal to Fredrik Sjöström, Frölundas sports director.
Agents in all its glory, but I thought that when they'll pick up a slightly older guy, it may be good for them to find out who you really are. I told sjöström I believe in me and that I really wanted to come, " says Grönlund.
in his backuppsättning. When the former Frölundaspelaren Elias Fälth said no to each offer went the chance for players who have not made a single game in the SHL.
The possibility he has taken on. Grönlund has proven to be far from padding. At the side of the strong defensive work he had always seen as their strength has he grown to a back who makes the points. After 14 points in the regular season there have been four goals and as many assists in the playoffs.
" I think I developed the offensive game when I was in Denmark (Rungsted) and Norway (Lillehammer), where I got to take more responsibility. I am definitely more of a tvåvägsback now, " he says.
if the unusual career. How many of the clubs he's been in: Almtuna, Leicester, derby and Asplöven had relatively small resources and it's not always been the opportunity to develop themselves. He says it's been his quest to reach further as a hockey player made his choice to move almost every season.
You can imagine the situation when he steps into the Frölundas headquarters and training facility in Frölundaborg the first lace up their skates next to the stars Joel Lundqvist and Ryan Lasch.
– Some of the players came directly from the NHL camps. It went very fast on the ice and well I had a small takeoff before I got into it, but the more confident you become in yourself, the better it tends to go, " says Grönlund, who think that he has made the main progress when it comes to the accuracy in the defensive job.
It is the tempo that is the big difference, but it is also what made him a better hockey player than he's ever been in his career.
" It's very much about which environment you have, which one plays with on the ice. Here are the players who draw coverage and open up the space for one. It is also very much about what the organization has in the club. There is a vast difference in the opportunities that exist in Frölunda and the clubs I have been in the past, " he says.
And so, he has a coach who knows how to get the actor to feel good and perform.
" He probably thought it was a bit daring, but at the same time that it was good that I showed their prowess.
" He is a strong character, a little bit with the feelings outside of the body. It was even stronger then. I think that he has grown something awesome as a leader. He gets out a huge amount of their teams. Before he could be a bit stressed, but now he lets everything take its time. It is a slow work that brings success.
So, you would also be able to describe the Grönlunds career. He describes his debut season in the SHL as pure joy. Recently also came Frölundas evidence of appreciation, when he was offered and accepted a tvåårsavtal.
– It is well a proof that it is never too late and that you should never give up, " he says.
Roger Rönnberg saw that he and Anders Grönlund reunited in the Frölunda – 15 years after he made home visits to the family Grönlund in the village of Långnäs outside Piteå. Photo: Petter Arvidson/Bildbyrånwith family and relatives at läktarplats and old coaches in motståndarbåset. He says he is not driven by revanschlystnad, but it is clear that it feels nice to get to show Roger Rönnberg, who never picked him up in Luleå (A-law, that he have a place in the SHL and the team that became Swedish champions as late as 2016.
On Sunday the opening of a finaluppgörelse in the best of seven matches. Grönlund think that it is beneficial for Frölunda have scored a few extra days of rest, and says that for him it played no major role, that it became Djurgården instead of Färjestad.
"We have shown in the playoffs that we can beat both teams that play compact, and such as the island of Djurgården that plays more with speed," says Grönlund.
to the other hopeful who is approaching the 30 mark.
think he also Frölunda sends a signal as an association to not only bring in young players to the NHL, but it is on a team where there is also a place for such as him.
He laughs at the question and responds to the skills, he considers himself not to have right now in any case.
" And I feel very good about where I am now and enjoying every minute of it.