Linus Söderström Set for Surgery, Skellefteå AIK Faces Goalkeeper Crisis Ahead of SHL Season
Skellefteå AIK's Linus Söderström will undergo surgery, heightening goalkeeper crisis ahead of SHL season.
Key Points
- • Linus Söderström to undergo surgery for a lower body injury, sidelining him for the year.
- • Both Söderström and Gustaf Lindvall are injured, creating a crisis for Skellefteå.
- • General manager Erik Forssell is looking for a new goaltender before the season opener.
- • Jani Lampinen is currently the only available goaltender on the roster.
Skellefteå AIK is grappling with a major setback just days before the start of the SHL season as their primary goaltender, Linus Söderström, is scheduled to undergo surgery for a lower body injury, sidelining him for the rest of 2025. This injury has been a lingering issue since February but has worsened to the point where Söderström can no longer fully bear weight, compelling the team's medical staff to recommend surgery.
In addition to Söderström's injury, Skellefteå is also missing another key goaltender, Gustaf Lindvall, who is currently recovering from his own injury. This leaves the team in a precarious situation with the season opener against Djurgården just a week away. With two of their main goaltenders out of action, Skellefteå's general manager, Erik Forssell, has confirmed that the club is looking into options for a new goaltender, potentially through a short-term loan or a more permanent solution.
Dr. Karin Granberg, the team's physician, emphasized that despite Söderström's previous periods of improvement, his condition necessitated immediate surgical intervention. Forssell has expressed optimism regarding the search for a replacement, highlighting that only 22-year-old Jani Lampinen, who recently joined from Mora in Hockeyallsvenskan, is available at this moment. In light of their situation, Forssell reassured fans that the team is actively working to secure a capable backup and remains hopeful that Söderström can return in time for the playoffs later in the season.
Currently, the outcome of the search for a new goaltender and the status of Söderström's recovery loom large over Skellefteå AIK as they prepare for what promises to be a challenging SHL season ahead.