“It is with great sadness that Lillehammer Ice Hockey Club has today received the news of Alexander Reichenberg’s passing,” it says. The news is published in consultation with the next of kin.
“Rest in peace, no. 61. You will always be remembered as an artist,” says the message from the Lillehammer club.
– It’s just unbelievably sad. Right now it’s just a big shock. My thoughts go out to his family and those who were closest to him. He was a great hockey talent and a great spreader of joy. It was never boring around Reich, reports Alexander Bonsaksen to VG.
Ice hockey president Tage Pettersen tells VG that it is “an unreal message to receive”.
“Alexander has been one of Lillehammer’s biggest profiles throughout history, with a great international career as a professional in the Czech Republic, Sweden and Austria. He also has international matches for Norway from U18 to the A national team and represented Norway during the Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018,” writes Lillehammer IK.
Reichenberg has played for clubs such as Sparta Praha and Färjestad in his career.
He returned to parent club Lillehammer in autumn 2021 after spending time in foreign and Norwegian elite clubs.
Reichenberg recorded a whopping 44 points in the Norwegian regular season last season.
– After the good season, which has just ended, Alexander received well-deserved attention from several big clubs in Norway and abroad. Of course, there was also an offer from the parent club on the table, and he wanted to spend time evaluating a new professional offer abroad against a good life with work, club games and belonging to friends and colleagues at Lillehammer, the club says on its website.
Nitten.no wrote before the weekend that Reichenberg had spoken to Vålerenga and is experiencing interest from Denmark, Slovakia, Austria and France:
– It’s nice to have the opportunities, but it has to feel right, he said himself.
– I had a good season so it is natural that someone shows interest.
Reichenberg’s long-time teammate Stein Tore Bakken has just received the sad news when VG talks to him:
– There were always funny messages and jokes around him. Never a dull moment with Alex!
– Besides, he was a very good ice hockey player. This is a great loss both for family, friends and teammates. In short, he was a nice guy, says Bakken.
Ice hockey president Tage Pettersen sends this message to VG:
– This was an unbelievably sad and unreal message to receive. Alexander was an ice hockey player in his prime and has contributed to the club and national team for many years. There are many who have had the pleasure of being around him in these years. The ice hockey association’s and my thoughts go out tonight to his immediate family, friends and the many teammates he has had around him in his career.
Lillehammer IK’s chairman Per Olav Andersen tells VG:
– This is a terribly sad and heavy Sunday for everyone who likes ice hockey and everyone who is obviously affected by this. Our thoughts go out to the next of kin, and we will of course also follow up on our own players.
