Holger Nurmela

Left winger Holger Nurmela is considered one of the best Swedish forwards in the late 1940s and early 50s. Nurmela started to play hockey with Hammarby IF in 1938 and after having short spells with AIK (1950-52) and Saltsjöbadens IF (1952-55), finished his career again with Hammarby in 1955-56. With Hammarby, Nurmela won three Swedish titles (1942, 1943, 1945) and was the leading goal scorer at the Swedish championships in 1949 and 1950. Internationally, Nurmela was capped 112 times between 1938-56 and scored 84 goals. He won an Olympic bronze in 1952, was a World Champion in 1953 and won World Championships silver in 1947 and bronze in 1954. He was a European Champion in 1952 and 1953, while taking silvers in 1947, 1949, 1954 and 1956 and bronze at the 1950 European Championships. He also won silver at the 1941 Unofficial European Championships. Nurmela was awarded the Stora Grabbars Märke (Big Boys’ Badge) #28 in ice hockey, a Swedish sports honorary award created in 1928 by Bo Ekelund. After finishing his sporting career, Nurmela worked for years as a coach with Hammarby IF.