Why girls hockey?

First I wan´t to address the fact that I´m working with girls. There have been a lot of questions over the years. And a lot of false statements.

That´s not real hockey. Girls can´t play. Why is there no tackles?

And I would like to say it like this. Yes, there is no tackles in women hockey if you compare it to mens hockey. But there is tackles. Sometimes it´s very rough.
And yes, it´s real hockey. Very real. And the girls can play. Usually as good or better then the men.

Why I choose to work with woman hockey? A lot of reasons.
From the very beginning I read an article in the local news paper that a new team was formed in Göteborg. The former Frölunda Indians player Fredrik Pettersson was about to support them. It was very hard to get sponsors. Women hockey players have to work or study AND play hockey. I was at the time a free lance photographer and mainly taking pictures of the SHL in Sweden.

I contacted the President of the club and offered the one thing that I could do. To take pictures of the games and give them for free to the club.

And it was there and then it all started. I took pictures, and before I knew it I got the question if I could help out and manage the statistics. Of course I could.

And I realized that the club could need more help in other areas. So slowly I started to get more and more involved. And I loved every minute of it.

Last season I managed both the team in division 1 and 2. I thought that was a lot of work.

This season we advanced to the highest league in women hockey in Sweden. I advanced to Head equipment manager.  And now I spend 6-8 hours at the rink per day. Every day. Still loving it? Yes! The gratitude of the girls is all I need. And coffee. A lot of coffee.

In this first post I´m addressing the questions about girls hockey. And why I do it. From now on it will be more about what I do, and when I do it. Please send me comment if you have a question or wan´t to know more.

And at last. Here is some pucks for you... :)