Hi Niklas! We are happy that you are finally back in Team Unihoc again, after a few years of absence, what made you return home to your original sponsor?

- I longed to play with the best material again! I have always considered Unihoc to be the best in the
business – and the reason that I switched to another brand for a while was that my friend, Magnus Augustsson, launched his own brand. When I saw that there was a chance to come back to Unihoc I didn’t hesitate for a second. As a matter of fact, I was the one who asked for the opportunity to play with the Unihoc sticks again!

You have made incredible achievements during your career, what goals do you have left to be reached before you put away your Unihoc sticks for good?

- I will probably never put away my Unihoc sticks for good – I will most certainly be involved in floorball some way or another, even if it is not on the top level. However, I still want to win one more SM gold medal. We have a great to team to be able to succeed with that – and we also have the right equipment (Unihoc signed a new sponsor deal with AIK before this season, editor’s note)!

Which stick model do you play with this season, and why?

- I immediately fell for the new Unihoc blade, Volcano. I have never before played with a better blade – it must be designed specifically for me. The shaft is a Top Light 26, 100 cm, which is a shaft that fulfills my wishes regarding flex and feeling. Actually, I owe it to my stick that I have scored so many points so far this season.

Describe your fondest Unihoc memory.

- My fondest memory is when I signed my first ever sponsorship contract. The year was 1995 when Jan Inge Forsberg offered me to play with their brand. To be sponsored by a brand was really big for me, and I remember that I wore a headband when playing just to look cool.

You are one of the players who have been using our equipment the longest, how do you think the material has developed since you started?

- Of course, a lot has happened since then. The product range has been increased massively, now there is a stick model for each playing type. One interesting thing about Unihoc is that it would actually be possible to play in the SSL today with one of their sticks from back in the days when I started – it must be unique to be that far ahead of its time! Furthermore, if you study the rest of the assortment apart from the sticks, it is apparent what a world brand Unihoc has become – which is very nice!

Can you state any detail in the Unihoc product range that has always been especially dominant, and which has been present in all collections over the years?

- The ability to listen. Unihoc has always listened to us players, to get input when developing the best equipment. Also, Unihoc has always dared to go its own way – take the “curve stick” for an example.

Which Unihoc stick from past seasons do you remember the best?

- I have to say the Cap stick. That was the stick I used when I scored more than 50 goals in one season. It was a perfect stick with a blade that was almost as good as the new Volcano blade.

How much longer do you think that you will play, and do you plan to continue with floorball in any other way when you are not playing anymore?

- Most certainly this will be my last season, but you never know. I still think floorball is a lot of fun and as long as I feel that I can be useful for my team I will continue to enjoy playing in the SSL. I will definitely continue with floorball in some way, but I do not yet know in what way. Maybe I will start working for Unihoc and develop my own “Jihde stick”…

Thanks for the interview, and good luck with the rest of the season!

- Thanks a lot!