BRISTOL, UK – Swedish forward Henrik Sahlin cannot wait to hit the ice with the Bristol Pitbulls this coming season. The former Bergen Flyers star was unveiled as the Pitbulls latest signing last week by supremo Richie Hargreaves.
Sahlin the Pitbull (Photo by Jarl-Erik Sandberg)
Sahlin is the latest Swede to sign up for a term in the English National League, following players like Johan Stenvall who iced for Invicta Dynamos last season. The twenty nine year old centre man spent last season in Norway playing for Division 2 side Bergen Flyers in what turned out to be a frustrating season despite a good start:
“Last season was a mixture of highs and lows for me. I started off really well but the team had a few issues mid season with money and staffing so we tailed off from second place to eighth by the New Year. That was disappointing”
Sahlin has spent much of his career in his native Sweden and his hockey CV most notably includes spells at IK Viking and Sollentuna HC in Swedish Division 1. He scored five goals and twelve assists in his thirty five appearances last season for Bergen, and says Bristol fans can expect to see some composed displays from him:
“If you asked me to describe my style of play, I would say I like to make things happen. I feel that I read the play well and can handle the puck. I like to open up the play with incisive passing so hopefully I can bring the form I had when I played in Sweden to Bristol this year”
It would be fair to say that Bristol is not renowned for having a large Swedish influence aside from the massive Ikea store that sits to the East of the city centre. So what was it that attracted Sahlin to the Pitbulls organisation?
Family leader Richie Hargreaves (Photo by Graham Goodman)
“It was my agent that orchestrated the move and he hasn’t let me down in the past so I trust him. After I then spoke to Richie (Hargreaves), I had no doubts about joining the team. He told me about the team and how they have a lot of fun and at the same time stand up for each other,
“He explained how they fight hard together and that the team is like a family. That spirit resonates well with me and it’s just how I like it. I have also heard only good things about Bristol as a city, and I know it’s not far from London”
Aside from the hockey, Sahlin is just as excited about the move to England. He confesses he has only ever been to the country on holiday in the past so the whole experience will be new to him:
“I have been to England twice. Once on holiday with my school as a kid and then again when I was older to watch my favourite football team AIK play against Arsenal in the Champions League,
“Football is a passion of mine so I am hoping to watch a few games while I am here. I have watched English football since I was small and I have always followed Millwall”
It is perhaps appropriate that a Millwall supporting Swede would join a team called the Pitbulls and Sahlin is a big fan of the team’s name:
Another Hargreaves initiative (Photo by Graham Goodman)
“A friend of mine has one of those dogs (a pitbull) and I think it is a great name for a team. Hockey is a tough and hard game you know?!”
What were the odds on Richie Hargreaves picking up a pitbull loving, Millwall supporting Swedish hockey player for Bristol? Very long, one would suspect.
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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