Release from 05.08.2023

Niklas Sundblad is the new Bolzano coach

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Niklas Sundblad is the new head coach of HCB Südtirol Alperia. The 50-year-old Swede played in the best leagues in the world during his active career. As a coach, Sundblad worked for many years in the DEL and SHL. Most recently, he was with the Schwenninger Wild Wings between 2019 and 2021.

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Between the 1990s to 2000s, Niklas Sundblad was in the Swedish first league for many years with AIK. The former forward was also drafted by the Calgary Flames, spent three seasons in the AHL and also appeared twice in the NHL. Other stops as a player included Finland, Germany (winning the 2001 title with Cologne) and, at the end of his career, Japan and Alleghe.

After hanging up his skates, he immediately began his career as a coach in the third German league and shortly thereafter was promoted first to assistant and then head coach of the Cologne Sharks in the DEL. At the same time, he also was assistant coach of the German national team. The crowning achievement followed in 2013/14, when Sundblad won the German championship with ERC Ingolstadt. He then returned to Cologne for another two seasons before spending three years coaching Orebrö HK in the Swedish first division. Between 2019 and 2021, he was in charge at the Schwenninger Wild Wings. In Bolzano, the Swedish coach now returns behind the boards.

"Bolzano has important goals and has been consistently one of the top teams in the win2day ICE Hockey League in recent years. We will have a fast and talented team. I attach great importance to good skating to build pressure on the opponent in every zone of the ice. I spent many years in the DEL and I expect a similar style of play," explains the 50-year-old.