Tomas Jonsson

Tomas Jonsson is regarded as one of Swedish hockey's legendary defencemenArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceArticle in SportbladetRead the sourceArticle in SVT SportRead the sourceClose. Tomas JonssonArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceArticle in Swedish Ice Hockey AssociationRead the sourceClose grew up in Falun, with Falu IF as his formative hockey club. In a 2017 interview with Hockeysverige, he recalled being a ballboy for the local bandyBandy is a team sport played on skates with sticks and a ball on a large ice field.Article in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose team, although hockey appealed to him more. He also explained that his nickname, Lill-Affa, came from his father Alf, who was known as AffaArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose.

In the same interview, Jonsson recalled an early senior game: a friendly against Yale UniversityArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose at Christmas 1974. Later that season, he also played a league game against SkogsboArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose.

Looking back in 2017, Jonsson said he had chosen MoDo in 1977 to learn from Tommy SandlinArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose and become more independent. He also saw fewer established defencemen competing for places thereArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose. At MoDoArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose, Lasse Lindgren provided defensive support that Jonsson credited with helping him understand the game better. In a January 2020Article in SHLRead the sourceClose interview with SHLSHLSHL, the Swedish Hockey League, is Sweden’s top men’s domestic ice hockey league.Close, he recalled Sandlin stopping a hurried practice scrimmage to emphasise that the players should keep the puck under control.

SHL’s JanuarySHL, the Swedish Hockey League, is Sweden’s top men’s domestic ice hockey league.Article in SHLRead the sourceClose 2020 interview reported that Jonsson had stepped away from elite coaching roles. At that time, he was volunteering on Falu IF’sArticle in SHLRead the sourceClose sports committee, at the club where his hockey roots lay.