Tomas Sandström

Tomas Sandstrom

Tomas Sandström is regarded as one of the major Swedish NHL players of the 1980s and 1990sArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceArticle in SportbladetRead the sourceArticle in SportbladetRead the sourceClose. Tomas SandströmArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceArticle in Swedish Ice Hockey AssociationRead the sourceClose grew up in Fagersta, with Fagersta AIK as his formative club. In a 2020 interview with Hockeysverige, he recalled his youth coach Lars-Ove ÅgrenArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose, who placed particular emphasis on skating and passing.

In the same retrospective, Sandström remembered playing for the boys’, junior and senior teams within a single week at the age of 15Article in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose. Senior coach Berra SvenssonArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose also worked as a recreation leader at his school and required him to keep up with his schoolwork to play for the senior team.

The chance to compete for a senior place was decisive in choosing Brynäs, Sandström explained in the 2020Article in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose interview; Leksand had instead discussed junior hockey. He also described Stig SalmingArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose and Lars Öberg as coaches who had shaped his approach to playing. He credited Salming with the nickname TjompenArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose.

In a 2008Article in SvenskaFansRead the sourceClose interview with SvenskaFans, Sandström said he had already planned to play 3 seasons when he returned to Malmö; he retired in 2002. Golf was a later documented interest: in April 2013, Svensk GolfArticle in Svensk GolfRead the sourceClose included him in its list of athletes who played golf and named Flommens GK as his club.