– No matter how happy and happy I was because I had done my part for it to be gold was to see the joy of everyone else who is the strongest memory, says Erika Holst about that day in March when Scandinavium exploded in a gold cheer.
For the first time, Frölunda managed to win the SM gold on the women’s side after winning the final over the former dominant Luleå.
On the ice in the middle of the gold ride stood Frölunda’s 26-year-old team captain national team player Hanna Olsson. She who left HV71 to move home to Gothenburg when Frölunda decided to make a commitment to women’s hockey for the first time. She who put her national team at stake when she went down a division to experience the girl’s dream to someday play in Frölunda’s sweater.
When the gold was secured came all the emotions at one and the same time for Hanna Olsson.
– When she stands there dressed in Frölunda’s sweater and cries in the interview after the match – which was seen by a record audience – it becomes so clear how big this dream has been for her. It also became a picture of the will and commitment that we have wanted from the start in the team. That is why I am still so affected by this, says Erika Holst.
Just under six months after the gold day, DN Erika Holst meets in Stockholm when it is time for the prelude for a new season.
The former big playerwho for many years was the team captain for the women’s crowns, after completing his position as development manager for women’s hockey at the Swedish Ice Hockey Association was away from hockey for five years when her former national team colleague Kim Martin Hasson called.
In the autumn of 2021, Martin Hasson had been presented as sports manager when Frölunda was to invest in women’s hockey for the first time, and before the premiere season 2022/2023, she offered Erika Holst job as head coach.
– At first I was quite surprised by the question, says Erika Holst.
– But when she presented what picture she and Frölunda had of what they wanted to do, I felt it was a very exciting project. The opportunity to join and build something from the ground up in an established and well -functioning association attracted, and made me say yes.
In 2002, you were the team captain for the bronze team in the Olympics where the then 15-year-old goalkeeper Kim Martin Hasson played big. What is it like to have her as a manager today?
– I usually joke and say that it is I who raised her, and I must have done well for Kim does a very good job, says Erika Holst and laughs.
– Given how long we have known each other, it is of course great fun that we are now working together. We have similar experiences with us in the luggage, and a consensus on the way forward.
Frölunda got Length criticism because they did not have a women’s business.
The club’s response to the criticism was always the same. Once they started, they wanted to be sure it was a sustainable project. Therefore, they wanted to start from below by first building a girl business.
– I was also one of those who thought it took too long, recalls Erika Holst with a smile.
– But I have to say that once we started this journey, we did it for real, and in the right order, Holst continues, mentioning the club’s ambition to have good contact with the clubs in the region and having a business where those who want to be best also get the conditions required for it.
The wholehearted investment from the club has quickly produced sporting results. After just one season in the second division, they made their way to the highest, and after only two seasons in SDHL the first SM gold came.
Some day before that gold was secured summarized chairman Mats Grauers for the site straight pucks What the investment had meant on a bigger level: “I think Frölunda is a warmer and in many ways finer association today when we also have girls and ladies.”
Coach Erika Holst is careful to emphasize that the successes are a result of many people’s hard work.
– I am very fond of “team thinking” because I am absolutely convinced that it is together that you achieve success. No man can do it alone, she says firmly.
Friday of September 5 Draws this year’s SDHL season in progress, and the question is how to proceed when you are already the best in Sweden.
Coach Erika Holst only laughs when I ask that question.
-First, it can win an SM gold never be something negative, she answers quickly but then develops the answer.
– As we see it, we are continued on a development journey where we continue to screw on all parts of our business to be even better. So I see no difficulty in motivating neither myself nor the players.
If we jump a number of years ahead in time, would you like to one day become the league captain for the women’s crowns?
– I am so incredibly focused on here and now that I cannot give a straight answer to it. As a player, I always had clear goals that I wanted to achieve, but as a coach I don’t really think so, says Erika Holst.
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