SANDIN PELLIKKA: “FINE COMPANY TO BE IN”( google translated article)

Ola Westerberg/Bildbyrån
Interview 2023-09-29
In order to get a place at a hockey school, Axel Sandin Pellikka signed up as a defender – and then he was retrained. Now he is one of only five defensemen in SHL history to score in three straight games as an 18-year-old or younger. “It’s a nice company to be in,” says Skellefteåbacken in an interview about role models, that his direct shot is not as accurate in training and tomorrow’s match against HV71.
Axel Sandin Pellikka has impressed greatly in the season opener. The 18-year-old defender has averaged 18:35 minutes of ice time per game, third most in Skellefteå, and he has scored in three straight games. Against Timrå, he put a wrist shot in the left crossbar. Against Örebro last Saturday and yesterday against Leksand, he scored almost identical goals. On a five-on-four play, he received a lateral pass from Jonathan Pudas and pounded the puck into the crossbar.

– It’s always fun to score goals. On the last goal, it was a cinnamon roll pass by Pudas. It’s just a matter of thanking and accepting. Pudas masked well and the goalkeeper was a little late over and then the cross is free, says Sandin Pellikka.

How are you going to invite back these cinnamon roll passes?
– I am obliged to do it so I have to try to give back in some way, he says.

Daniel Eriksson
Axel Sandin Pellikka celebrates after scoring for the third game in a row.

“Always fun to stand somewhere”
With his three goals, Sandin Pellikka has succeeded in something that no SHL player has done in 28 years. Only four defensemen who have been 18 or younger have netted in three consecutive games before. The last to do it was Mattias Öhlund in 1995. Others who have succeeded in that feat are Anders Eldebrink, Tomas Jonsson and Roger Hägglund – who all did it in the 1970s.

– I haven’t had time to think about it that much, but it’s a nice group to be in. I haven’t thought about it that much, but it’s always fun to stand somewhere, says Skellefteåbacken.

How well do you know the other players?
– Well. I know a little about Mattias Öhlund. That I recognize his name, but the others had been playing for so long and I have no idea about them, unfortunately.

The only defenseman who has been 18 or younger and scored in four consecutive SHL games is Mattias Öhlund, who did it for Luleå 28 years ago. Tomorrow, Sandin Pellikka can touch it if he nets against HV71

– If Pudas continues to deliver good passes to me in PP, maybe it can sit. Although it’s not something I focus too much on, I just want to contribute as much as I can to the team, says Sandin Pellikka.

How much have you practiced on that direct shot?
– We stand and enjoy basically after every training session. But in practice, the pucks can fly everywhere, out in the right corner and go along the ice. The shots are at the matches, so I save up for the matches.

Getty Images
Sandin Pellikka was drafted in the first round, number 17 overall, by the Red Wings this summer.

Started his career as a forward
With his three goals, Sandin Pellikka is the league’s leading scorer among defensemen and 10th in scoring among defensemen, but the 18-year-old, who was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings, has not set any goals when it comes to goals and points this season.

– Before the season, I first of all wanted to get up to the SHL and play a few minutes per game. I want to keep playing my game, be fearless and try to play with confidence. That is the goal I set. I want to play my game and develop that way.

Axel Sandin Pellikka has Malmberget’s AIF as its parent club and the fact is that he started his career as a forward.

– In my youth I was mostly a forward. I remember I was at a hockey school, but I don’t remember where, and it only had back seats left. Then I registered as a back and after that I was a back. I thought I can score from that position too, haha.

Was your biggest concern with the position change that there would be fewer goals?
– Yes exactly.

How old were you when you went to that hockey school?
– I think I was around ten years old. Until I moved to Skellefteå (2019), I mixed things up a bit. I was both back and forward, but it was back in the end.

What role models did you have growing up?
– In 2010, the father was on a business trip in Chicago and then he bought a Patrick Kane shirt for me and the little brother. I’ve been watching Kane on Youtube and trying to imitate his dribbling. Dad has some clip of me as a kid dribbling through a bunch of pucks because I’ve seen Kane do it. He is the first idol.

Have you had any slopes you’ve been looking forward to?
– Now in recent years the ones who are cruel in the NHL, like Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. But here in the team it is probably Jonathan Pudas. You get inspired by seeing him daily. I try to imitate some of his moves and shots.

Skellefteå is visited by HV71
For Sandin Pellikka and his Skellefteå, HV71 awaits tomorrow. An HV71 that comes on ll Skellefteå Kraft Arena from two straight losses this week, while Västerbottinna took an odd-goal victory on Thursday against Leksand.

– We had a great team effort last time. We’ll take it there and offer the home crowd a win, I think, says Sandin Pellikka, who is chasing a goal for the fourth game in a row.

Skellefteå-HV71 starts at 18:00 tomorrow

[original source ](https://www.shl.se/article/k8oas1q-403dd/view)