Dzierkals beats Apple and wins the Swedish hockey championship

On Monday, Šellefteo AIK, represented by Latvian forward Mārtiņš Dzierkals, triumphed in the final series of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), beating Engelholms “Rogle” with Rodrigo Ābolas.

In the fifth game of the series, AIK won at home with the result 2:0 (0:0, 1:0, 1:0) and reached 4-1 in the series up to four victories.

Schellefteo also won the Swedish championship in 1978, 2013 and 2014. For the first time, the team secured the title in a game at home.

Dzierkals is the first Latvian hockey player to become the Swedish champion. In the fifth game of the final series, he was on the ice for 13 minutes and 37 seconds, scored once, used one power play and had a neutral efficiency ratio.

Abols played 20 minutes and 40 seconds, used two power plays, won six of 15 faceoffs and ended the match with a negative efficiency coefficient of -1.

Dzierkals collected 2+1 in 45 and 16 games, respectively, in both the main tournament and the play-off. Abol has 26 points (14+12) in 50 games in the main tournament, and 12 points (5+7) in 15 play-off matches.

“Rogle” overcame the semi-final series, defeating last year’s champion Vekshes “Lakers” in all four games, while Schellefteo AIK was superior to Gothenburg “Frolunda” 4-3.

Last season, Vekshe “Lakers” became the champions, which defeated Schellefteo AIK 4-1 in the final series.

Mārtiņš Dzierkals. Photo: AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin/Scanpix