Kristianstad on lessons learned as a newcomer, so teamwork continues

Mattias Pettersson is close to being ready for Kristianstad. Photo: Photographic Agency

Another goalkeeper name who recently appeared on the surface is Jonathan Stålberg, 22, who last season played 24 games in the Hockey League with Mörrum. But that’s not the name Falk wants to comment on.

– I’m not going to speculate on more names on the porter side, Falk says.

Christian Falk, on the other hand, can confirm that four goalkeepers are leaving the club. Long-term injured Joel Gistedt, Antti Lehtonen, Christian Engstrand and Oliver Tornerefelt, who represented Kristianstad at Hockeyallsvenskan, have done their part in the club.

– They will not play at Kristianstad in the future, says Falk.

Injured Joel Gistedt leaves Kristianstad after four years at the club. Photo: Photographic Agency

On the coach side, assistant coach Andreas Lilja has entered SHL and Malmö, where he will compete with Joakim Fagervall. This means that Kristianstad is looking for an assistant coach. The most-heard name is seasoned Gunnar Persson, who was an assistant coach at Leksand last season and is based in Skåne.

– Nothing is clear, but Gunnar is the best candidate and he would fit perfectly into the leadership team with his routine and with all his qualities as a coach and leader.

Gunnar Persson is still very current for a leadership role at Kristianstad. Photo: Photographic Agency

On the other hand, the club currently has three contracted players. According to Falk, there will be a total of seven tracks before closing the store there. Erik Flood from Hudiksvall, Borlänges Lucas Bylin and Vita Hästen Rikard Olsén, who were not renewed by the Norrköping Club, are three players linked to the Swedish club.

– There are good players all the ones you mention and they are interesting for us. We will have four tracks to explore the market. We will see what we can finish with.

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Persistent rumors also place their own product and the Alexander Molldén hill in Kristianstad. Molldén finished last season at Kristianstad after producing 29 points in 37 games for Mörrum at Hockeyettan.

– It is clear that you always want to choose your own products. I have spoken with Molldén and us for a discussion, so much that I can say.

On the negative count, Kristianstad loses some heavy pieces from her back. Amil Krupic, who earned the club’s inside points with 36 points in 48 games and was the third-best scorer in the series, is looking to join AIK’s big bet next season.

Also, Christian Falk says the Kristoffer Gunnarsson home loan is not relevant to a continuation.

– He has a contract with Mora that we must respect. There will be no more games in Kristianstad for him.

Kristoffer Gunnarsson does not stay in Skåne. Photo: Photographic Agency

On the front side, Kristianstad has skewed him better. Eleven players have contracts and it will only take three plays if Christian Falk can decide.

– The idea is that we start the season with 14 forwards.

Two of the places that Erik Santesson and Daniel Andersson will occupy.

– These are players that we want to keep and that we hope to clarify.

Could there be more loans for Rögle players?

– We always check SHL loans, so it doesn’t matter if it’s from Rögle or another club. But we had good contact with Rögle last year and there could be more players from there.

17-year-old keeper’s promise Clang Street is lent to Kristianstad of Rögle. Photo: Photographic Agency

You have recruited many J20SuperElit players and are rumored to be some players in the Hockey League. Is it a conscious strategy?

– Gath (Mikael, head coach at Kristianstad) is good at developing young players and has been a J20 coach at Rögle before, so he becomes a natural link there. We shouldn’t hide under the chair that we can’t recruit Hockeyallsvenskan shooters, but we can find possible ones. An example is Anton Heikkinen (now in Södertälje) whom we brought from the HV71 junior organization. He scored 15 goals in 40 games at Hockeyallsvenskan. It’s a little bit, so we have to work. Then we feel that some of the players we have extended did not reach their full potential last year and Hockeyallsvenskan’s one year routine we hope will do them good.

Teen Anton Heikkinen made a strong debut season at Allsvenskan Hockey. There have been 15 goals in 40 matches, now the career at Södertälje continues. Photo: Photographic Agency

In mid-March, HockeyNews.se wrote that Kristianstad was on the road to a million losses and that the elite license was in jeopardy. But when the news came this week from the Swedish Ice Hockey Association that the elite license is paused for next season. But don’t think that Kristianstad, who also has short-term staff and players, applauded the union’s message. A lot of work awaits ahead.

– The only thing this with the elite license simplifies for us is that we don’t risk leaving. But we still have a heavy backpack that we carry with us over the years. We cannot lie down and die and we will continue to work hard. Johan (Lindbom, club manager at KIK) has been fighting very hard and we have some new structures in the club. It looks like we’re on the right track, says Christian Falk, who tells him he’ll probably have Hockeyallsvenskan’s lowest player budget season.

– Compared to last season, it will decrease by 15-20 percent.

READ MORE Millions of losses for Kristianstad