As a youth, Grunander played football alongside Birger Sandberg, where he helped his school win the Crown Prince's trophy in 1937.
[1] In 1948, Grunander took over as chairman of Djurgårdens IF Hockey and in his first year with the team helped them qualify for the then-highest league, Allsvenskan.
[2] As Grunander saw his team dominating the league, he was one of the first instigators that argued for a new elite series of Swedish hockey.
[4] Later in his career, Grunander helped recruit players from IK Göta to play for Djurgården, including Ove Malmberg who described him as a charismatic leader and hockey expert.
[5] Grunander also served as a council member of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association from 1968 to 1978 before being elected President in 1978.