Hallsberg’s former team captain is our new site manager in Örebro
190 cm tall and right-handed—if you get the picture, you get the picture: his stats on Elite Prospect speak to his time with Närkehockeyn. He’s been sweeping chimneys for fifteen years, and for the past three months, he’s been our attentive site manager in Örebro. Meet the defensive giant, the chimney sweep, and IFK Hallsberg’s former captain: Thomas “Smeten” Smedberg.
Nobellhallen is a classic venue, and Hantverkarhockeyn has become a traditional institution. For Thomas, it’s new yet the same—it’s the first time he’s representing the team as a player who prefers to set up goals rather than score them. And to sum up last Friday somewhat, it wasn’t Thomas who won, but his new boss (the other Thomas, also known as: Sööder)—and maybe that says something. Or maybe it says nothing at all. Regardless, we in the arena got a taste of Hallsberg’s former captain and his leadership style.
“I try to be responsive in every situation, and if someone has a concern—no matter what it is—I want us to work together to resolve it. Work should be fun, and even though I’m a stickler for order (clean and tidy shelves), leadership is also a team sport,” says Thomas Smedberg, site manager at Renta Örebro.
Rome wasn’t built in a day
The years spent in the second division of hockey and all the expectations from the board, sponsors, teammates, and fans have undeniably shaped “Smeten.”
– The board and senior management set the direction, and it’s important that they’re also open to everyone else’s perspectives. These dialogues are what set winners apart, and if you can bring the whole group together and get everyone to work for one another—then you’ll win the game.
Veterans World Championships in Vancouver
It’s not exactly as if the sticks are gathering dust on a shelf—along with other “old-school gear,” they’re still being dug out from the corners of storage spaces all over the world. Goal Diggers has won veteran tournaments in both Prague and Örebro. These achievements earned them a spot in the Veterans World Championship in Vancouver, Canada, in 2023.
“It was an awesome trip and the organizers ran things like pros. We went to an NHL game and played two close matches. But man, in the last one we got absolutely crushed,” sums up the bugg pro, adding:
– It’s what we learn from our losses that helps us win next time.
