Release from 30.08.2026

Mikael Frycklund on the start of Milan’s new ice hockey era

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As a key performer in recent years, Mikael Frycklund played a major role in the success of HC Falkensteiner Pustertal. This summer, the 33-year-old moved to Milano Hockey Club. The center discusses the challenges of a newly founded club, the team’s preparation, and what will matter most in the upcoming win2day ICE Hockey League season.

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After three successful years in Bruneck, Mikael Frycklund switched to the new team in Milan this summer. The Swedish-Italian dual citizen looks back on his time in South Tyrol with pride and is excited about the new adventure. “We reached the playoffs every season: once the quarterfinals, once the semifinals, and most recently even the finals. The group of guys we had last season was amazing, and I enjoyed every minute of it. When I first heard about Milan joining the league, I thought it was a cool project — something very interesting with the city and something new. When I got the opportunity to join the club, I didn’t really hesitate,” says Frycklund, who also has family in Bergamo: “They visited me during the Olympics when I played for Team Italy. I can’t wait to meet them more often and have some dinners together.”

Training camp strengthens team cohesion
While his former club in Bruneck has developed year after year since joining the league, the new Milano Hockey Club is still at the very beginning - which presents a challenge for everyone involved: “It’s new for everybody. So we really need to be patient as a whole group and as a whole organization, because we need time to build this up. But I think for the future of the win2day ICE Hockey League, it’s going to be really good. It’s a good market. I think Milan is a great city, as everybody knows, and having a hockey team there is going to be good.”



Their own Fiera Ice Arena is still under construction, so the Milan team is mostly preparing away from home for its inaugural season. After a training block in Innsbruck, the squad is based in Klagenfurt until Tuesday, where it also took part in a preseason tournament - on Saturday, the Italians celebrated a 5-4 win in an intra-league test against Vienna. Frycklund was present for the entire team camp but had to miss the games at the Heidi Horten Arena due to illness. “It’s good for team building and getting together, but it’s also tough being away from your family. At the same time, we’re building something, and this is our job. So I think we have a great opportunity to be professional here and make the best of it,” the forward acknowledges.

“Play the best hockey at the end of the season”
The Italian national team player was not only successful with HCP as a team: with 95 points in 136 league games, the 33-year-old can also point to strong individual statistics. That’s why the experienced center knows what will matter in the coming season: “It always comes down to the end. It doesn’t matter if you’re first in the league or tenth. If you play your best hockey at the end of the season, you’re probably going to be in a good spot. So it’s all about growing, working hard during the season, and reaching your best level by the end. Everybody knows that in hockey you will have ups and downs. It doesn’t matter if you have a good start, because eventually you’re going to have a bad period, and you have to find a way through it.”

Teaser image: Serena Fantini