The coach’s words before the summer break were the start of something new for Axel Holmström – Sport’s Swedish star is playing the hockey of his life and enjoying himself in Vasa: “My gut told me to play where it feels fun”

Axel Holmström has been one of the FM league’s hottest centers all season. After a tough summer of training and a nice start to the season, the Swede has already signed for two more seasons with Sport. It was an easy decision, he tells Yle Sporten.

Swedes Simon Hjalmarsson and Jens Lööke were signed to Vaasa ahead of this season to produce points.

The blue and yellow new acquisitions have not let Sportfansen down. Neither has compatriot Axel Holmström, who plays center in the first chain between Hjalmarsson and Lööke.

Holmström stayed in Vaasa after a fairly mediocre debut season in the FM league. Now he averages one point per game and the 26-year-old has been among the best scorers throughout the autumn.

How did it happen?

– I am a little more prepared now. I have learned what hockey looks like here and know the leaders in a different way. I simply feel safer out there, says Holmström to Yle Sporten.

– We found each other with Hjalmarsson and Lööke quite early in the pre-season – and then confidence grows.

Beat Tappara in front of a large audience

Much of Sport’s offense revolves around the front trio.

The Swedish stars stay on the ice during most of the numerical superiority. The Vasalaget’s wins are synonymous with skænlire from Holmström & Co.

That was also the case in Wednesday’s home match against Tappara.

Holmström had already had time to change when Teemu Väyrynen made it 1-0 on a pass from Hjalmarsson shortly before the second break in the power play.

Hjalmarsson and Holmström then played until the home team’s second goal. The latter also obscured the goalkeeper in connection with Emil Johansson’s goal.

– During the last 10-15 games, we have taken big steps forward in the power play. We didn’t get it right at the beginning, so we have had to put energy into it, says Holmström.

Tappara managed to equalize after each of the lead goals, but after Johansson was rewarded for the second time with his power play, Tammerforsalget was no longer in the race. Together with Jens Lööke, Holmström took care of the preparatory work.

The 3–2 victory was a nice midday gift to the relatively large crowd of 4,294 spectators on Kopparön.

– Thanks to a working power play, we can win tight games like these, Holmström notes.

The summer gave a boost

But it’s not just new chainmates who are behind Holmström’s hot take on the ice.

Risto Dufva has hinted that the Swede made great progress with his physique following the coaches’ call before the summer break. The 26-year-old center signs it.

– It was clearly so. One of the big goals for the summer was to take a step forward to be able to play the minutes that we are now getting. It gives a confidence boost to be able to feel fresh on the ice.

– I put a lot of extra effort into the summer training and it has had an effect. It’s probably something you have to continue with.

Showed the way with contract extension

Holmström has been one of the top scorers all autumn. The top of the points league is usually an excellent showcase for getting to an even bigger context than the FM league.

But Holmström has already extended his contract in Vaasa – by two years. After his signature, compatriots Simon Hjalmarsson, Jens Lööke and Sebastian Stålberg have in turn made the same decision.

– I was probably a little ahead of the others, so you could say I pushed them, laughs Holmström.

Was it an easy decision to extend?

– I think so. I came here from HV71 after leaving the SHL and was looking for a place to enjoy after a hard winter. I have enjoyed myself very much here.

– When the proposal to extend was on the table, my gut told me to play where it’s fun. Then it happened.