Mora’s coach, Johan Hedberg, caught in California

ofTT

published: May 9, 2020 at 1 p.m. 6.30
updated: May 9, 2020 at 1 p.m. 26.7

He’s stuck in California, 860 miles from his new team, and he has no idea when he’ll meet the players.

Johan Hedberg has had a remarkable start to the training task at Mora.

– By August, when the team freezes, I have to be in Mora, says the old NHL profile.

In fact, Johan Hedberg has never met the management of the Swedish hockey club. The negotiations, before signing the coach’s contract, were conducted by phone and video.

– It’s modern times now with homework. But I have a good idea of ​​Mora and the people of the club, he says in an interview from his home in Los Gatos, outside San José.

The 47-year-old man talks about the harsh California quarantine, which is severely affected by the crown.

– I’m not afraid on my part. It may sound a little arrogant. At the same time, no one knows what is happening. In California, otherwise, the way Sweden handles the crown is a big topic of conversation. Many are jealous of the Swedes.

“Wise opinions”

Hedberg has daily digital conversations with Mora.

– These conversations have a lot to do with clarifying the roles different people have in the club. I try to meet them and they seem to be good people with sensible and sensible opinions.

He has also spoken to several of the players.

– Of course, it is better to talk face to face. But it is like the situation and young people today (the players) are used to communicating in this way.

“Not optimal”

It was in 1999 that the transfer class went to the United States to play in the NHL. Since then, he has been a permanent resident of the United States, with the exception of the 2004-2005 lockout year.

Now is the time to move home forever. One of his three daughters is already in Sweden. But no one knows when the rest of the family can find out.

– This situation with Mora works well at the moment, but it is not optimal. We have reserved tickets in June, but we don’t know if there will be flights. By August, when the team is frozen, I have to be in Mora.

The fact that Johan Hedberg is a profile of Leksand who now trains Mora has not caused any major reaction south of Siljan.

– I had thoughts in my mind that you could talk about it. But everything has been calm. I’ve only had positive reactions, which is good.

I got fired

The plan is to settle in Mora, even though the family already owns a house in Leksand, five miles away.

– It is important to me to live where you work. I want to be able to feel the mood of the residents of Mora and understand how things work. Plus, it works more efficiently than wasting time on the go.

Since 2013, Johan Hedberg has held various coaching duties in the United States. The last four seasons as a goalkeeping coach and assistant coach at the San Jose Sharks. The fifth season ended with him and the other team of coaches fired in December 2019.

– It was a shock and humiliating when the conversation came. This is a useful experience to carry and makes me more humble in the role of coach, says Johan Hedberg when he begins his first year as head coach.

– At the same time, we must remember that many things happened in Sweden during the years I lived in the United States. For example, I don’t know how young boys react today compared to when I was young in Sweden. Here I have to be humble.

He says much of the initial training work is about creating a strong club feeling. That players and leaders must have a strong identity with Mora.

– I have no official placement goals. The main objective is that the players, myself and all the members of the team work every day with the ambition to always be a little better. We must be prepared to do the work required to improve. At the same time, I will work very individually with the players to make them grow.

Facts: Johan Hedberg

published: May 9, 2020 at 1 p.m. 6.30