Hockeysverige.se’s Uffe Bodin wrote an article about Red Wings prospect and Djurgardens IF forward Albin Grewe, and the article is accompanied by a video interview with Grewe. What follows is a rough translation of Bodin’s article:
“He’s an animal force that can make a difference”
He would [rather] not even play for Djurgarden this season. But Albin Grewe has not only remained in Sweden, but he has also made an impression in the SHL. Against Skelleftea came his first goal of the season–and a different tribute from coach Robert Ohlsson.
“I think he is an animal force that can make a difference,” says Djurgården’s coach after the overtime victory with 3-2.
STOCKHOLM (HOCKEYSVERIGE.SE)
Djurgarden’s coach, Robert Ohlsson is not afraid of change – nor is he afraid to put the team’s NHL-loaned players aside when he doesn’t think they are performing [well]. This explained Tobias Björnfot experience when he was placed on the stands for two straight games last week. It also got Dominik Bokk a learning experience when he was benched during Monday’s 3-2 victory against Skelleftea home at Hovet [Arena].
[Bokk,] the German, did not play a single second in the game. Instead, Ohlsson promoted junior forward Albin Grewe onto the third line with Michael Haga and Manuel Ågren. It paid off when Grewe scored his first SHL goal of the season.
“I like Grewe. I think he is an ‘animal force ‘that can make a difference, and now he has scored goals as well. He plays with bite. It was good for us,” says Robert Ohlsson, and [Ohlsson] believes that the physical element that the forward contributes was missing in Saturday’s 5-0 loss against Farjestad.
“We were quite a lot of [goals] down in Karlstad, so now we put Dominik aside and Grewe was given the chance. It turned out well. He had his animal power today, and then, he is good.”
The 19-year-old scored Djurgården’s 1-0 goal in the first period. This after Sebastian Strandberg put pressure on the guests’ defenseman, Adam Wilsby, and forced him off the puck. Skellefteå’s goalkeeper, Arvid Söderblom, tried to push the puck away, but put it straight into the gap for Grewe.
“It’s nice to be able to push it there. Strandberg did a good job before and it was just to put it in really,” says Albin Grewe to hockeysverige.se.
MADE GOALS – BEFORE THE MOUNTAIN’S EYES
That he took the opportunity to score just tonight was good timing. Junior Kronor national team GM Tomas Montén sat [in the stands] to evaluate players before the World Junior Championship squad that will be presented in a few weeks. There, of course, Grewe hopes to get the chance.
“I hope the chances of joining are good,” he says with a laugh. “It’s fun that he was here, and checked in today, and that I managed to score. It might strengthen my chances too. I’m just trying to grind in and do everything to get by.”
The paradox in Albin Greve’s case is that he would rather not really be in Sweden, or be playing SHL hockey. The plan was for him to move to the United States and play junior hockey for Saginaw Spirit in the junior league OHL. But since the start of the season in North America has been postponed due to the pandemic, he has remained on Swedish ice. And when he goes over is written only in the stars.
“I don’t get much information about what’s happening there. I’ve heard that it’s starting around February 4th, but I haven’t talked to them much since I signed my contract [there]. Right now I’m here and I think it’s very fun to be here, but when it starts over there, I will go there,” says Albin Grewe.
Djurgarden dominated the meeting with Skelleftea during most of the first two periods, and had 34-18 shot advantage, and 2-0 on the board before the third period. There the guests woke up, and came back with full force. They led in shots 17-2, which led to two goals and an overtime period. There, captain Jacob Josefson could finally decide for the home team.
“We got very shaky when Skelleftea made it 2-1. It feels like Skelleftea could have been able to score three or four goals there. But then it was just fighting and pretty bad fighting, not so organized and pretty bad with the puck. It was good when OT started. It felt good to win, but the third period was strong for Skelleftea. We have to look at it and throw it in the trash,” said coach Robert Ohlsson.
