Modo Hockey has appointed Thomas Rhodin as new head coach following the dismissal of Mattias Karlin and Mikael Sundell. The club is also verbally agreed on a deal with Canadian defenseman Ryan O'Rourke. Rhodin emphasized that the fourth-place team faces no major crisis.
Coaching Transition at Modo
Modo Hockey acted swiftly after parting ways with head coach Mattias Karlin and assistant Mikael Sundell, just one day after a victory against BIK Karlskoga. The 54-year-old Thomas Rhodin, a former back legend, steps in alongside Fredrik Andersson to lead the team from the bench. Rhodin, who has been clubless since leaving Färjestad last season, accepted the role quickly, citing Modo's SHL-caliber potential. "Laget ligger fyra, det är ju ingen tokkris," Rhodin said in an interview with Modo's communication department. He plans to focus on details, particularly with the backs, box play, and improving the struggling power play, which has a mere 7% success rate over the last five games.
Forward Måns Carlsson expressed shock at the coaching change. "Jag blev ganska chockad faktiskt. Det kom efter en bra vinst," he told Hockeynews. Despite the upheaval, Carlsson highlighted the team's strong group dynamic but noted inconsistencies in performance. Modo sits four points behind second-place Kalmar in Hockeyallsvenskan, with Carlsson contributing five goals and five assists this season.
Potential Reinforcement
In parallel, sportchef Henrik Gradin confirmed a verbal agreement with 23-year-old Canadian defenseman Ryan O'Rourke from the Laval Rocket. Drafted in the second round by Minnesota Wild in 2020, O'Rourke brings over 200 AHL games, a 2020/21 JVM gold with Canada, and a physical style with strong puck-handling and a hard shot. The deal awaits final release from his current club, with presentation expected around Christmas. Gradin denied rumors of deals with Kasper Kotkansalo or August Berg, though interest in Berg persists. Panel experts Mattias Persson and Andreas Hanson praised the signing as a stabilizing force for Modo's defense, fitting the team's needs for a tough, reliable back.