Pelle Eklund

Pelle Eklund stood out for his technique and hockey senseArticle in SportbladetRead the sourceArticle in Sveriges Olympiska KommittéRead the sourceClose. Pelle EklundArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose began playing both hockey and football with IF Brommapojkarna in western Stockholm. In an interview from October 2008, he recalled later moving to Stocksund alongside Tommy and Christer AlbelinArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose.

Looking back on his formative years in the same interview, Eklund named Stocksund’s Verner PerssonArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose as the coach who had mattered most. He also credited Persson and the club’s volunteers with giving the young players early evening practices rather than late ice slotsArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose.

Football also became an alternative to senior hockey: Eklund played 11 senior matches for BrommapojkarnaArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceArticle in IF BrommapojkarnaRead the sourceClose. In the 2008Article in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose interview, he recalled choosing hockey at 17–18, when AIK wanted to recruit him, and preferring hockey’s faster pace. His route to AIK also involved a meeting that never took place: Eklund recalled nearly joining Hammarby, but Leif BoorkArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose did not arrive for their arranged café meeting, and AIK subsequently recruited him.

Eklund also described postponing a planned move abroad in 1984Article in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose to gain another year in Elitserien. Explaining his later choice of Leksand in the same interview, he pointed to the summers he had spent thereArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose.

On 15 November 2021Article in Flyers Alumni AssociationRead the sourceClose, Eklund played in a Flyers alumni game after traveling from Sweden, according to the association’s retrospective. The game’s proceeds benefited Flyers CharitiesArticle in Flyers Alumni AssociationRead the sourceClose and the Flyers Alumni Association.