It’s one thing celebrating a milestone for a club, but to score and send your club to the 2019/20 Champions Hockey League Final is one of the best ways to celebrate.
That’s exactly what happened to Frölunda Indians captain Joel Lundqvist, helping the reigning CHL champions to another Second Leg comeback in a 3-1 victory over Luleå Hockey. “First of all, it’s a gigantic milestone for me to play this game. And then the importance of the game and turning it around," said the Indians' captain. "I can’t think of a better scenario. I’m very happy with the night.”
After overturning First Leg defeats in the previous two rounds against Färjestad Karlstad and EHC Biel-Bienne, they did it once again against Luleå. “I can’t say that it is just a coincidence when we have done it so many times. We have good chemistry in the group and many of the players have played similar games before. It is kind of different to play a Playoff in the middle of the season," explained Lundqvist. "Many of these games are so tight. There are small things that decide them and we have the ability to get them on our side. It’s not only luck, but we have also created something that makes us strong as a team."
Now, Lundqvist and his side have a chance at making it a fourth CHL title when they take on Mountfield HK, and with 1000 games in the books for Lundqvist, it’s a look at what’s next in his already storied career. But how many more does the 37-year-old think he’ll play? "1000 more games are hard," he joked! "It’s a hard question. I’ve never thought about it before it began to approach. But we’ll see. We have one more season, at least, so maybe a hundred more?”