IF Sundsvall Hockey, a resurgent team in Hockeyettan, is focusing on daily improvements as it prepares for a quarterfinal series against Borlänge starting March 11. Coach Jonas Lindström emphasizes building a strong organization without long-term deadlines, while expressing ambitions to return to HockeyAllsvenskan. The club has climbed back to contender status after financial troubles.
IF Sundsvall Hockey finished fourth in the northern division of Hockeyettan this season, narrowly missing second place. The team showed consistency but faced challenges in closing out tight games, as noted by Jonas Lindström, the club's sports director and head coach. "Vår insats i serien var helt okej. Lite upp och ner överlag men vi har gjort det bra," Lindström told Hockeynews. He highlighted progress in recent matches, with the team generating many shots but needing to convert opportunities better.
Next up is a best-of-five quarterfinal against Borlänge HF, beginning on March 11. Lindström anticipates a competitive series, given the close encounters between the teams this year. "Jag tror att det blir en jävla bra matchserie. De har verkligen fått till det i år och har många duktiga hockeyspelare," he said. Sundsvall views its playoff chances positively, having been among the top teams for three straight seasons.
The club's history adds context to its current drive. Sundsvall last competed in HockeyAllsvenskan during the 2015/2016 season but faced severe financial issues afterward, leading to the shutdown of both men's and women's teams. It restarted in Hockeytvåan ahead of 2019/2020 and earned promotion back to Hockeyettan immediately. Now stable, the organization dreams of higher levels. "Det är klart att vi vill det. Sundsvall är ett gammalt allsvenskt lag och hör hemma där," Lindström stated.
Challenges persist, including economic pressures in a league with 40 teams where players hold part-time jobs. "Det är en jävla utmaning att vara ett av de 40-lagen," Lindström acknowledged. The focus remains on daily operations to foster sustainable growth, without rushing timelines. Sundsvall aims to perform well in the playoffs while steadily rebuilding its structure.
