The Swedish Cup (Svenska Cupen) Finals took place on the 22nd and 23rd of February. Both the Women’s and Men’s final were exciting affairs pushed on by packed crowds in two different venues. Pixbo Wallenstam IBK were crowned Swedish Cup champions on the Women’s side with IBF Falun lifting the trophy in the Men’s competition.
Women’s Cup Final
The Women’s final in the Swedish Cup took place between Thorengruppen IBK and Pixbo Wallenstam IBK, was an even and intense match. Both teams were equal throughout before Pixbo pushed ahead in the third period. The final score of 7-6 announced Pixbo Wallenstam as Swedish Cup champions 2023.
“We have worked for this for a long time and had three painful final losses in a row. Finally it was our turn,” says Pixbo Wallenstam’s Ida Sundberg.
Over 1,600 spectators in Wallenstam Arena got to see their side Pixbo Wallenstam open up the final in the Swedish Cup in the best possible way. Two quick goals to Pixbo set them up for a great start. Team Thorengruppen, however, quickly caught up with the deficit and the match was very equal in both fight and on the scoresheet. In the third period, Pixbo Wallenstam was able to pull away and win the final 7-6.
“It feels fantastic. There are many of us who have played together for many seasons. Being able to do this with those girls means a lot“, says Pixbo’s team captain Ida Sundberg after the final whistle and she continued to speak about the final itself.
“We had a very good start to the match, which we haven’t had in the previous finals, so it was nice. Then they catch up on slightly unfortunate goals, a bit of bad luck you could say. Then it’s even all the way through and they could just as easily get an extra ball in there, but we also created chances to score goals. We stand here as winners today and I am very happy with that.“
For Ida Sundberg and her Pixbo Wallenstam team, the SSL playoffs await and the chance to play for another title, something Sundberg and Pixbo are looking forward to, whilst for Thorengruppen they will be looking for revenge and the chance to reclaim their ‘title’ as the best team in Sweden.
Men’s Cup Final
The Men’s final in the Swedish Cup between FBC Kalmarsund and IBF Falun ended with victory for the team in pink. After an even and tight start, Falun pushed ahead away and crowned themselves champions of the Swedish Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
“Cool, it’s a title we’ve been missing and a trophy we wanted to put in our prize cabinet,” says Falun’s team captain Emil Johansson after the title.
A packed SBB Arena saw an exciting start to the Swedish Cup final. Two teams with a lot to play for and chances in both directions. Despite the large home support in Kalmar, it was Falun who were the most clinical during the match and after 60 minutes of play, the Svenska Cupen trophy was in the hands of Falun.
“Fantastically nice, we want to win everything we put in and it has been an important interim goal for the season. The first in the Champions Cup and second here with the Swedish Cup and now only the SM gold in April remains“, says Falun captain Emil Johansson and he continued what a historic triple would mean:
“That would mean a lot. I have a lot of titles and we have a lot of titles but now we can become historic and make a mark. I want to do that, it would mean a lot.”
Back to the final, the opening was dramatic. Chances and situations were exchanged, but it was only in the second period that the scoring began and in a special way. Defender Emil Nilsen showed his quality with a dream goal where he turned the ball up at the far post with a half-zorro, half ice hockey “Michigan” goal to not only take the lead but inspire Falun to takeover the match. Falun had a three-goal lead before the third and in the final 20 Kalmarsund could not get closer, with the final score being 2-10.
Emil Johansson and the other Falun players who won World Championship gold in November can also take a quadruple this season.
“I really want to win everything I put in. If we and I had that calendar year… It would… It’s hard to win and it takes mental effort to win but now there’s only one intermediate goal left to reach it“, says a smiling Emil Johansson, “To make history and win titles, that’s probably why you do this sport.”
