Kenth Larsson, 68, is an institution in Brynäs and in Hockey Sweden.
It is Thursday evening and with a calm and confident voice he starts another match, against Rögle, in the Monitor ERP arena. Or the Gavlerink that many people stick to.
These days he is also known around town and in the bustle of the foyer before matches.
– In the past, people could say, “well, it’s you with the voice”. Nowadays, 20-year-olds come forward and want to take selfies, he says.
Kenth Larsson in conversation with supporter Viktoria Cederholm. Photo: Roger Turesson
Kenth Larsson has experienced Brynäs 13 SM golds (1964–2012) at a distance of one club length. Since 1973 as an announcer, but already as a five-year-old he hung out in the secretariat.
– You could say I was born in Brynäs. My grandfather Axel Svensson was a profile in the club as a team leader in the team that went up in 1943. Then he became a timekeeper at the matches. At the same time, my father was a record keeper, so I joined the booth as a little boy, says Kenth Larsson, who over the years got more and more tasks.
Pre-talk with other officials before Brynä’s match against Rögle. Kenth Larsson moves homely in the corridors. Photo: Roger Turesson
As a 17-year-old, he suddenly became the announcer at Brynä’s matches, because no one else wanted to be. An odd choice for a special reason.
– When I was young, I was terribly shy. At school I had anxiety when there were oral performances. But behind the microphone I felt calm. Then I trusted my knowledge, I know the rule book inside and out.
There he has now sat since 1973 when “Tigern”, “Virus” and “Ugly Stigge” ravaged the ice.
No protracted contract negotiations before a new season are needed. Brynäs IF is counting on Kenth Larsson.
– It’s probably a little bit like I get to say if I want to quit. But as long as Brynäs wants me, I’m not going to stop.
There is a lot to keep track of before the match. Photo: Roger Turesson
Is renewal an overrated word, do you think?
– Haha, then I have to answer that I am in any case not the same announcer as in 1973. I have changed things over the years, he says.
– In the past, it was icing, offside and goal scorers to keep track of. Now it is much more commercial parts and side arrangements.
The game on the ice has changed enormously during the 50 years and if you sit close to the ice you notice even more how fast it goes.
– We help each other in the secretariat if it is difficult to see, he says.
– It’s a completely different sport now with the pace and power. In the past, there were freer games and less precise tactical plans.
Renewal? No, it’s a bit overrated, thinks Brynäs, who has employed Kenth Larsson as announcer since 1973. Photo: Roger Turesson
In the 1970s dominated Brynäs big. Among all the legendary players, Tord Lundström, who won nine SM golds, is the personal favorite of Kenth Larsson.
– But there are many, like Lars-Göran Nilsson and Hans “Virus” Lindberg. In the next generation I would say Mats Näslund and in today’s team Jakob Silfverberg.
But the team that impressed him the most in Gavlerinka is Russian.
– The best team I’ve seen in Gävle is CSKA Moscow, who we met in the European Cup final in the early 70s. They had players like Ragulin and the first super chain with Charlamov, Petrov and Mikhailov. They were completely superior to Brynäs, who were still so superior here at home.
– It was an experience to see the legendary coach Tarasov standing there with his notepad.
– CSKA wanted to play both matches in Gävle. It was probably because they were so sure of victory, but they also very much wanted to be in the West. They wanted to exchange for ballpoint pens, nylon shirts and everything possible that was not available in the Soviet Union. What kind of barter did they have? You can’t say that, but it was probably a lot of liquid goods.
Before the match against Rögle, Kenth Larsson hands out an award to Niklas Gällstedt as coach of the year 2023–24. Photo: Roger Turesson
He remembers the three best most recent SM gold in 1993, 1999 and 2012.
– The 93 team was close to my heart because I had been the leader of many of the players. I have had many different roles in Brynäs.
– 2012 was big because it has become a long way between the gold nowadays, he says.
In 1999, he had to officiate the victory ceremony even though the match was played in Örnsköldsvik, where Brynäs defeated Modo in the fifth and decisive match.
– I was there and their announcer asked me to take over at the award ceremony. He didn’t feel very well after the loss, and that’s understandable.
The heaviest experience was when Brynäs left the SHL in the spring of 2023 for the first time in 63 years. A shock for the whole of Gävle. But it still seems to have been a turnaround for the club after several years of downward spiral.
– The remarkable thing was that the crowd stayed and paid tribute to the players immediately afterwards. It was like the whole town immediately decided we were going back. The important players stayed and in the Allsvenskan we had more audiences than ever before. And now it looks pretty good, says Larsson.
Depp in Brynäslägret after the demotion to the hockey allsvenskan in March 2023. Photo: Tobias Sterner/Bildbyrån
The hardest assignment was a match against HV71 in November 2022, when Kenth Larsson had to deliver the memorial speech for the recently deceased Börje Salming. “Börje has made his last change. When you go home tonight, look up at the sky, because there is a new star”, said Larsson then.
– It was such a sad evening, his fight against Alzheimer’s disease and everything.
– Börje was only here for three years, but he put Brynäs on the map. He did his last season right before I started as announcer, but I got to know him then. When he came to Brynäs, it was the beginning of something new. He had an enormous willingness to sacrifice, threw himself belly-first and was a bit crazy on the ice.
After Börje Salming’s death in November 2022, a condolence book was placed in the arena during the match against HV71. Kenth Larsson gave an emotional memorial speech. Photo: Mats Åstrand/TT
Kenth Larsson makes sure that an announcer is clear and conveys the judges’ message.
– I advocate a neutral and objective style. A speaker should not be a cheerleader, there are some at the highest level.
Brynäs wins 2–1 against Rögle and Kenth Larsson can add another match to the agenda. He estimates that he held the microphone for around 1,500 Brynäsmatches.
– If I go to another match, I find it very difficult to sit in the stands, in which case I might as well watch at home. It’s down at rinkside it’s happening. Maybe I should ask if I can sit down there with you when I’ve finished, says Kenth Larsson with a laugh.
– By the way, have I told you that I was an announcer for Tre Kronor for 20 years until 2012 and did three World Cups?
– And two curling WC in Gävle, with Anette Norberg and Peja Lindholm. But then I didn’t have to talk so much.
Inge Hammarström left Brynäs for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the same year, Kenth Larsson began his long career as an announcer. Photo: Roger Turesson
