MoDo Hockey has found itself on the receiving end of a sharp reprimand from officials during the ongoing preseason schedule, prompting head coach Mikael Karlberg to address the squad directly over concerns regarding on-ice complaints, according to reports covered by regional media and Hockeysverige.
Referee Reprimands Prompt Urgent Warning from Karlberg
The critique comes as the club navigates its early autumn fixtures. Through the opening three matches of the exhibition calendar—which includes a victory against IF Sundsvall Hockey alongside defeats to Brynäs IF and Skellefteå AIK—the refereeing crew has repeatedly signaled that the team’s vocal reactions to officiating decisions have crossed a line, as detailed by Hockeysverige.
During a team meeting called ahead of Tuesday’s fixtures, Karlberg tackled the feedback head-on, emphasizing that the coaching staff wants to stamp out any perception of persistent complaining before the regular league campaign gets underway.
Cracking Down on On-Ice Complaints
Speaking to regional outlet Örnsköldsviks Allehanda (ÖA) in remarks picked up across sports desks, Karlberg outlined the nature of the warnings delivered by the referees on the ice.
– Vi har fått kritik i två av tre matcher hittills, där de kommit och sagt typ ”inte nu igen”. Domarna tycker vi varit lite gnälliga tidigare också och det vill vi stävja direkt. Vi är inte ett lag som gnäller, filmar eller förstärker – vi står upp och kör, sade Mikael Karlberg, according to reporting by Hockeysverige.
Drawing on Färjestad BK Experience
Karlberg pointed to his own background behind the bench—specifically his time serving as an assistant coach with Färjestad BK—as a blueprint for correcting similar behavioral reputations.
– Färjestad hade också ett rykte om sig att vara gnälliga, men vi tog bort det. Det blev bättre och jag tror i grund och botten att det är en ledarfråga. Karlberg förklarade för Hockeysverige att även om sådant gnäll kan misstas för att ge fördelar, leder det i slutändan bara till att man uppfattas som gnällig.
Shorthanded Lineup Faces Björklöven
The timing of the reprimand coincides with a demanding stretch of test matches as the team refines its tactical shape. Modo is set to face Björklöven on Tuesday in their next high-intensity matchup.
However, the squad will enter Tuesday’s encounter shorthanded. According to confirmed roster updates from Hockeysverige, the team will be forced to manage without Sebastian Ohlsson, Troy Bourke, and Hugo Hallin, who are unavailable for selection.
We welcome your thoughts on how clubs handle referee relations during the preseason. Please share your perspective in the comments below.
