Last year’s finalist Luleå has had a difficult season. Luleå was involved in the fight around the qualifying line for a long time. After a strong end to the season, however, they managed to climb the table and secure a place in the round of 16.
On February 28th, Luleå met Brynäs in a very important match. Luleå won 4-1. Team captain Erik Gustafsson played 20 minutes in the match, despite having a fever.
After the match, he got worse and had to be hospitalized for a little over a day. He had suffered from pneumonia.
– It was a warning bell, says Gustafsson.
He is still taking antibiotics to get rid of the infection and is uncertain to play in Saturday’s first round of 16 against Oskarshamn.
– From what I have been explained to me, it should be calm as long as the infection is gone and the general condition is good, that you feel energetic. I will cough for a long time, the doctors say. I’ve never had it before, so we’ll have to confer with the medical team and see what they say, Gustafsson adds Norrbottens-Kuriren.
Erik Gustafsson was hospitalized
During Friday, Gustafsson did his first session on ice with his teammates after he fell ill. According to Norrbottens-Kuriren, he participated in some exercises, but spent most of the session watching.
If Gustafsson does not play in the round of 16, he will still be with his teammates in connection with the matches against Oskarshamn.
– You want to be around the team as much as possible in this situation. These are the matches you want to play and I will do everything in my power to be able to play. If that doesn’t work, I will help the team in any way I can.
