HV71 Faces Setback as Alsing and Dichow Sidelined After Head Injuries in SHL Match
HV71 captain Olle Alsing and goaltender Frederik Dichow suffer head injuries in a match against Linköping, leading to their absence from upcoming games and sparking referee criticism.
- • Olle Alsing and Frederik Dichow sustained head injuries during the match against Linköping, causing them to miss at least two games.
- • Alsing suffered a concussion after a collision with Adam Hofbauer; Dichow was injured by a teammate's accidental leg hit to the head and hospitalized.
- • Coach Anton Blomqvist criticized the referees for not penalizing the head hit on Alsing, a claim responded to by SHL referee chief Tomas Thorsbrink.
- • Despite injuries and controversy, HV71 secured a 3-2 victory, with team members expected to step up in the absence of the injured players.
Key details
During an intense Swedish Hockey League (SHL) clash on October 28, 2025, HV71 celebrated a narrow 3-2 victory over Linköping, but the win was overshadowed by serious injuries to key players Olle Alsing and Frederik Dichow. Both players sustained head injuries that will keep them out of action for at least two upcoming matches, significantly impacting HV71's lineup.
Captain Olle Alsing left the game in the second period with a suspected concussion after a collision with Linköping's Adam Hofbauer. Head coach Anton Blomqvist confirmed Alsing would not return, stating, "He plays no more," as Alsing showed clear symptoms of a concussion. In the third period, goaltender Frederik Dichow was hit accidentally in the head by a teammate's leg and subsequently transported to the hospital via ambulance.
Team doctor Jonas Kalman confirmed both players will be sidelined until after the national team break, emphasizing the seriousness of their conditions. Center Martin Johnson remarked on the situation, noting that while injuries are part of sports, other players must now step up to fill the void left by Alsing and Dichow.
Coach Blomqvist also publicly criticized the refereeing during the match, particularly for not penalizing the head hit on Alsing. He said, "It is completely unreal that eight eyes [the referees] cannot see that," expressing frustration at the officials' oversight. Linköping's coach Mikael Håkanson admitted he did not witness the incidents but trusted the SHL to handle the matter appropriately.
In response to Blomqvist's comments, SHL referee chief Tomas Thorsbrink cautioned against publicly naming referees, highlighting the risk of increased scrutiny and threats. He acknowledged the incident involving Alsing has yet to be reviewed and stressed that not all head hits result in penalties. Despite mistakes, Thorsbrink noted an improvement in refereeing standards this season.
HV71's victory under these challenging circumstances demonstrates the team's resilience, yet the absence of two core players due to head injuries poses difficulties as they prepare for upcoming matches.