Ulf Dahlén

Skating after school in Östersund was part of Ulf Dahlén’sArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose hockey childhood, he recalled in a 2018 interview with Hockeysverige. Östersunds IKArticle in Svenska IshockeyförbundetRead the sourceArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose was his formative club, and in the interview he remembered going straight from boys’ hockey into its senior team, where he played for 2 seasons between the ages of 16 and 18.

The move into senior hockey also involved choosing a club: Dahlén recalled that 6 Elitserien clubs had approached him, but he stayed when Östersund promised him a senior roster place following promotionArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose. He also highlighted coach Hans BrunkArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose and the trust Brunk placed in him.

Dahlén’s contact with Björklöven began before he left ÖstersundArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose. In the same interview, he said he trained with the club after his first senior season in Östersund and that the experience made his move there at 18 easierArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose.

Away from hockey, there was also harness racing: in a December 2025 interview with Svensk Travsport’s ViArticle in Svensk TravsportRead the sourceClose är Sporten, Dahlén described his longstanding interest in the sport.