Brynäs Women’s Captain Retires

23 Mar 2018Adrian J»

Brynäs women's team went out of the Playoff at the quarterfinal stage last week. That meant it was time for captain, Angelica Östlund to hang up her skates. At only 26 she has the record for the most ever games played in the top Swedish hockey league, the SDHL, with 310 matches over 10 years.

Brynäs Women’s Captain Retires

“I have developed both on and off the ice as a person and have learn to believe in my own point of view”.

Number 42 on her back and a C on the front of her Brynäs jersey. That’s how we’ve come to recognise Angelica Östlund, who after 15 years is retiring as a professional hockey player.

“Really it was a decision I made before the season had started. It was really nice to know that it would be like this. To play at this level demands a lot of time and motivation and I felt I wanted to prioritised other things in life”.

Angelica had a great last season. She led the club with confidence and showed the way for her team mates.

“It has been a great honour to be Brynäs’ captain. And, of course, I am going to miss hockey. After so many years I am going to be taking away a big part of my life. It has created many memories. And although it is quite hard right now at the end of the season to point to one special one, being part of four Swedish championship finals is probably near the my best memories”.

“Now I’m going to fill up my time with other things. But first I think I need to let this decision sink in properly. I know in any case I have one year left of my studies to complete”, says Angelica.

But she won’t disappear completely from Brynäs or ice hockey. Earlier today Brynäs announced that they would be starting a workgroup to develop better terms and conditions for women’s hockey. And Angelica is part of this group.

Translated with permission from the original Swedish article by Peter Mansson, published 20 Mar 2018: http://www.brynas.se/artikel/px17ajezs-1ekad/brynas-damlags-lagkapten-slutar