Rödvita hjältar #18 Jared Aulin
Vad är egentligen en hjälte i hockeysammanhang för en klubb? Jag skulle säga en spelare som har helhjärtat spelat för klubben. Någon som har varit mer som en ambassadör på och framför allt utanför isen. Vi har i Örebro haft ett antal av dessa hjältar och de kommer ni att få mer av i denna artikelserie. Vi börjar med en rödvit hjälte från den kanadensiska staden Calgary.
Jared Aulin kom till Örebro inför säsongen 2010/2011 och varade i klubben till säsongen 2014/15. När jag tänker på Jared Aulin tänker jag på ett speltekniskt geni som öste in både mål och assist. Men framför allt tänker jag på en individ som var så mycket mer än bara en hockeyspelare. Han var under sin tid i klubben en ambassadör som alltid ställde upp för oss fans. Han var en gentleman med båda fötterna på jorden och ett tydligt klubbhjärta. Han var så långt ifrån som man kan vara bara här för att tjäna pengar. Han var här för så mycket mer. Men jag tänker också på en otrolig kämpe som hjärtskärande förlorade sin mamma Patricia Aulin i monstret cancer i början av hans sista säsong i Örebrotröjan.
Nu har Jared tagit ett vidare steg i karriären och hamnat i den schweiziska andraligan NLB där han numera spelar för laget Rapperswil, vi tog ett snack för att höra om hur han ser tillbaka på tiden i den rödvita dressen.
Hello Jared!
How are you doing?
Hello Andreas, I am doing very well thank you! Thanks so much for reaching out. It’s always nice to hear from someone representing the Rödvitt!
How is it to play in the Swiss League?
The swiss league has been a lot of fun. It’s a very fast and skilled league an I have been fortunate to be playing on a contending team every year. Unfortunately we have come up short in the finals the past 2 seasons, so the goal is to win the championship this year.
What are the biggest differences if you compare with Swedish hockey?
When comparing the swiss 2nd league to the Allsvenskan there isn’t a whole lot that’s different. Both leagues are very fast and skilled. I think the Allsvenskan is a little bit more structured but not a whole lot. I like to say these leagues are organized chaos haha. Our team has a system, but in both leagues it is rare to find teams that stick to their system and play an organized game. When comparing the NLA to the SHL I find that the Swedish league takes more pride in being defensive. The NLA is very offensive and they often have games where they are just trading scoring chances. Both are a lot of fun to play in.
How do you look back on your time in Örebro?
My time in Örebro will forever be the best days in my hockey career. That’s not to take away from anywhere else I have played. I’ve never played anywhere that I didn’t enjoy, but Örebro separated itself from the others. It started with coach Peter Andersson believing in me and allowing me to play my game. He trusted me and told me to be myself and if I made mistakes, just to work hard to fix them. That gave me the confidence to play at my highest abilities. Then there was my teammates. There was a group of us, King Henric, Wiklander, Weinstock, Kaberg, Kalle Olsson and others who had been together for awhile and wanted to get to the SHL. We achieved that goal and got spoiled to the greatest celebration in front of the greatest fans in downtown Örebro. What a memory that is! Once we made it to the SHL things changed for me.
I wanted to be given the opportunity to prove that I could be a huge impact at the level but felt as though the organization didn’t give me that chance. They brought in several different imports and started to take my opportunity away. My last season there was extremely frustrating because I was being mislead the entire season. I started the season with 9 points in 10 games and then went to represent team Canada at the Deutschland Cup. On my return I was taken off of the power play for awhile and my ice time went from 15 plus minutes a game to 10.
I would ask questions and try to get answers but all I would hear is “You know how it is”. I was asked to represent Canada at the Spengler cup and was told they would be disappointed in me if I went. To this day, I still wish I went to represent my country. That is a huge honour. To make a long story shorter, I found out at the end of the season that Örebro would not be able to bring me back the following season and it would look better to the fans if my stats were less than if the team were to mention the business mistake (I don’t want to get into detail).
Aside from that, it looks as though Örebro is in good hands again and making a bigger statement in the standings. I have always wanted to see Örebro have success, and I still do.
What was the best with playing in Örebro?
There are too many great things about Örebro. I made a lot of great friends there. Not just on the team but in the City. Andreas and David who own Java and several other restaurants are people whose friendships I will cherish for a long time. I need to find a way to repay them for how good they always were to me, my family and my friends. I could go out in Orebro on my own, knowing that I would be welcomed to sit down eat my lunch and chat with people that are now really good friends. My Swedish agent Walter Olsson lives there, so we would get together quite often and I knew I could count on him when I was going through the loss of my beautiful mom. In fact, I know I could count on the entire city to be there for me when I was going through that trying time. As a Canadian kid, living in a foreign country, I don’t think it gets any better than that.
You had a special relationship with the fans, can you describe it?
Throughout my time in Orebro my relationship with the city and the fans grew to a level where they became family. I wanted to battle every night and be the best I could be, because I didn’t want to let my “family” down. They were always at their best and if you can’t get up for a game in Örebro in front of those fans, then you better see a doctor haha. Most fans see every player as just that, a hockey player. In Örebro the fans see you as a human being, with feelings and someone who goes through the same daily trials that they do. When my beautiful mom was diagnosed and when she passed, the tribute the fans did is a memory I will never forget and one I will probably get painted and framed some day. Markus Gustavsson, Frederic Rehn (& family), Fredrik Akerstrand (& family) and Trana, plus many more are people who went out of their way to take care of not only me, but anyone who came to visit me.
From the 50+ Jared Aulin face masks in Leksand when I was pursuing a point streak record, to signing my contract extension at centre ice, to getting to hold the loud speaker and chant with the entire arena, for my family and friends to witness how lucky I was. Those are moments I would have never dreamed of but I didnt have to because I got to live them. I will always be forever thankful for my relationship with the OHK fans. Like I said, they are family now!
Is it possible that we see you in the organisation again in the future?
Anything is possible. I still feel I have something to prove at the SHL level and would love an opportunity to do it for another season in Orebro. Best way to end my career would be to win a championship there right?!?!
You are one of the historical hero’s in Örebro Hockey and we thank you for everything you have done for the club
Thank you so much for your kindness and for reaching out to me. I wish you, the city of orebro, the great fans and the entire country of sweden plenty of health, happiness, love and laugher. Happy Holidays everyone!!
En historia för nästa generation Örebrosupportrar
När jag blir äldre och ska skola in nästa generation örebrosupportrar kommer jag att berätta om den stora spelaren och ännu större personen Jared Aulin. Han kommer alltid ha en speciell plats i vårt rödvita hjärta. Han är en sann rödvit hjälte.
