Arne Grunander
{{short description|Swedish ice hockey executive}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Arne Grunander
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|01|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden
| death_date = {{death date and age|1987|02|13|1918|01|28|df=y}}
| death_place = Hässelby, Sweden
| nationality =
| other_names =
| occupation =
| years_active =
| known_for = President of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association
| notable_works =
| honours = IIHF Hall of Fame
| spouse(s) =
| children =
}}
Arne Grunander (28 January 1918 – 13 February 1987) was a Swedish ice hockey executive. He helped lead Djurgårdens IF Hockey to nine championships and served as president of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association from 1978 to 1983. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame posthumously in 1997.
Career
As a youth, Grunander played football alongside Birger Sandberg, where he helped his school win the Crown Prince's trophy in 1937.{{cite web |title=Birger "Farsan" Sandberg till minne |url=http://www.dif.se/sidor/nyheter/nyheter.asp#selection-3363.195-3363.216 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040609205430/http://www.dif.se/sidor/nyheter/nyheter.asp#selection-3363.195-3363.216 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 June 2004 |accessdate=27 February 2019 |language=Swedish}}
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. From the 1948 season onwards, Djurgården won nine Swedish championships between 1950 and 1963.{{cite web |title=von Konow: "Sex raka guld är oslagbart" |url=https://www.shl.se/artikel/jy3zainsk-403dd/von-konow-sex-raka-guld-ar-oslagbart |website=shl.se |accessdate=27 February 2019 |language=Swedish |date=22 December 2011}} 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. Although the proposal was first shot down, by 1974 the Swedish Hockey Association eventually decided to create the Swedish Elite League.{{cite web |title=Nästan 300 svenskar till NHL från elitserien |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/sv/m_news.htm?id=781720 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=27 February 2019 |language=Swedish |date=5 October 2015}} At Djurgården's 75th anniversary, Grunander was awarded a merit award from Djurgårdens IF, the overarching sports club of all departments.{{cite web |title=Bågspännaren som väggplakett |url=http://www.difarkivet.se/bagspannaren_som_vaggplakett.asp |website=difarkivet.se |accessdate=27 February 2019 |date=1981|language=Swedish}} 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.{{cite web |title=Old School Hockey: Ove Malmberg |url=https://www.difhockey.se/artikel/2kteainrq-1lead/old-school-hockey-ove-malmberg |website=difhockey.se |accessdate=27 February 2019 |language=Swedish}}
Grunander also served as a council member of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association from 1968 to 1978 before being elected President in 1978.{{cite web |title=Arne Grunander |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/IZone/izone.member.info.do?mem=19 |website=legendsofhockey.com |accessdate=27 February 2019}}
Although he died on 13 February 1987, Grunander was inducted posthumously into the IIHF Hall of Fame as a builder in 1997.{{cite web|url=https://www.swehockey.se/hockey-hall-of-fame/invalda-i-hhof/85-96/86-arne-grunander/|title=Arne Grunander|date=22 August 2014|website=Swedish Hockey Hall of Fame|language=sv|access-date=4 July 2023}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grunander, Arne}}
Category:20th-century Swedish sportsmen
Category:IIHF Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Men's association football players not categorized by position
Category:People from Stockholm
Category:Sportspeople from Stockholm County