Sven Bergqvist

Sven Olof Lennart Bergqvist (20 August 1914 – 16 December 1996) was a Swedish football and ice hockey player, known for representing Hammarby IF in both sports.

He played 55 games for the Sweden men's national ice hockey team at the World Championships and the 1936 Winter Olympics, and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1999.

He had several siblings and frequently acted as a ball boy during the football matches of the local club Hammarby IF during his youth, studying his idol Victor Olsson.

[2] He had a short stint at the Allsvenskan club AIK, during the season of 1936 because the national team required first division players in the Olympics.

His nickname "Svenne Berka" originated from the supporters of Hammarby, who shortened his full name in accordance to the then reigning Stockholm dialect.

[2] Bergqvist was also characterized as always wearing an own sewn cap on the pitch, which inspired a long lasting fashion trend among male youngsters living in Södermalm.

[2] Bergqvist was also a talented sportsman in handball, playing one game in the highest Swedish division – though not for Hammarby IF, but SoIK Hellas.

[2] Bergqvist was a close friend of fellow Hammarby and Sweden national team player Lennart Skoglund, who visited him in the hospital after the incident.

He took up archery and was chosen to represent Sweden at the 1960 Summer Paralympics in Rome, but had to decline due to financial reasons, since he would have had to pay all expenses himself.

[17] Upon the construction of the Tele2 Arena, Hammarby Fotboll's new home stadium, Bergqvist was honoured with a nearby square being named after him.

Sven Bergqvist as football goalkeeper.