Here the star breaks the world record – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule

April 24
2024
at
14:03

Vålerenga’s great talent disappears from the club

Stian Solberg (18) helped send Vålerenga to the National Championship finals in ice hockey, but now the great talent has been lost to the Oslo club. Solberg has signed a two-year contract with the Swedish SHL club Färjestad.

Solberg says he turned down an offer from Färjestad last year.

– I didn’t feel it was the right time. I’ve had a good year this season, so I really feel that it’s absolutely perfect to go this year, says Solberg to NRK.

Vålerenga’s sporting director, Anders Myhrvold, says he persuaded Solberg to stay last year.

– Since then, he has developed into the elite series’ best back. He has all the qualities needed to play in the NHL in the future, says Myhrvold.

In the summer, the world’s best ice hockey clubs will also fight to secure Solberg during the so-called NHL draft.

There, one of the NHL clubs will most likely secure the rights to Solberg for four years, a kind of option that gives them the opportunity to pick up the Norwegian at any time.

– He is an ambitious, young player who is being talked about in connection with the NHL. He will be chosen by an NHL club this year, that is one hundred percent certain, says Färjestad’s sporting director, Rickard Wallin.

But even if an NHL club probably secures the rights to Solberg in the summer, by all accounts he will play for Färjestad for some time to come.

– We will support Stian in becoming a pro in Sweden before we talk about the next step, which is playing in North America, says Wallin.

Färjestad won the regular season in the SHL last season, and is considered one of Sweden’s best teams.

– I love Vålerenga, but it will be fun to try something new and play for an even bigger club, says Solberg to NRK.

Solberg and Vålerenga lost the NM finals against Storhamar on Tuesday evening.