Threatening postcards sent to players and a coach at IK Sirius bandy club have prompted an investigation as the team prepares to face Edsbyn IF in the Elitserien semifinals. The messages, bearing the Edsbyn club logo, contain what Sirius defenseman Simon Blomqvist described as “direct hate and threats” in a message to Bandypuls.
The incidents stem from a December 12th match between Sirius and Edsbyn, during which Edsbyn’s Oscar Wikblad suffered a broken collarbone in a collision with Blomqvist. Following the game, Blomqvist reportedly received initial backlash, which he had previously stated he had moved past. However, ahead of the semifinal series, the threats have resurfaced, escalating to include postcards sent to his home and those of his parents.
Sirius coach Jesper Larsson has likewise been targeted, receiving both postcards and text messages. One postcard sent to Larsson featured bandy imagery and the text “Sköna hälsningar från Edsbyn” (“Greetings from Edsbyn”) alongside the message “Påminnelse! Bara 6mm från hjärtat!” (“Reminder! Only 6mm from the heart!”), according to Aftonbladet. Larsson’s wife, Sara Hellman, described the message as “more hate than threat,” but still “incredibly unpleasant” to receive at home.
Authorities are now involved, with an anonymous tip leading to the identification of a potential sender: an 80-year-old Edsbyn supporter. According to Bandybyn.se, the supporter confessed to sending the postcards and previous text messages to Larsson following the initial incident between Wikblad and Blomqvist. The individual reportedly expressed difficulty understanding how her actions reflected poorly on Edsbyn IF Bandy as a whole.
Edsbyn IF has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the supporter’s actions. The club is currently preparing for the first game of the semifinal series against Sirius, scheduled for Saturday, February 28th. Sirius finished second in the Elitserien, winning all 13 of their home games, including an 8-2 victory over Edsbyn on October 31st, a match played even as Edsbyn was dealing with numerous injuries, according to Bandybyn.se.
The semifinal series is scheduled as a best-of-five format, with the next match set to be hosted by Edsbyn IF Bandy in the Svenska Fönster Arena on March 2nd. The outcome of any potential police investigation remains to be seen.
