"Rikard Grönborg is a North American-style coach with clear ideas, strong charisma and very good communication skills," ZSC's team manager Sven Leuenberger explains. "Rikard was responsible for the training philosophy of the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation at the time and had a decisive influence on Swedish ice hockey."
"They really wanted me, so it was a pretty easy decision in the end. It's a big club and a top club in Europe," Grönborg says to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. "It's a top job. The competition on it was pretty tight so I'm proud that I got the offer to come to a top club and perform on a daily basis. It's something I look forward to."
About a month ago, Grönborg told the Tages-Anzeiger that "although I think that the National League is a good league and that Switzerland is beautiful, my goal is the NHL." A goal that he now seems to be willing to postpone for at least two years. According to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, there is no NHL out-clause in Grönborg's contract with the Lions.
This month, the 50-year-old will coach the Swedish national team at the World Championship in Slovakia again after winning the gold medal in the past two years at the IIHF Worlds in Germany and France (2017) and in Denmark (2018). As of next season, his current assistant coach Johan Garpenlöv will take over for him.
( 09 May 2019 | tme )
