Erik Andersson – from SHL Player to PolarCool CEO

Erik's journey to becoming the CEO of PolarCool is an interesting one, characterized by an impressive professional hockey career and a passion for concussion-related cases.?

SHL CAREER

Erik's success in ice hockey is widely recognized, having played for prestigious teams like IF Bj?rkl?ven, Skellefte? AIK, Link?ping HC and Malm? Redhawks.

Hailing from Ume?, ice hockey runs in Erik's blood, with his father having also played in the SHL. Following in his father's footsteps, he began his professional career playing for his hometown team before eventually moving on to the SHL in 2005. Throughout his career, Erik experienced many highlights, including winning the Swedish championship twice while playing for Skellefte? AIK. He also had the unique opportunity to play alongside his younger brother Nils during the last three years of his career with Malm? Redhawks.

Unfortunately, Erik's career was cut short due to a concussion sustained during a hit in a Champions Hockey League game. Despite seeking treatment and waiting for the symptoms to subside, Erik was eventually advised to retire from professional hockey, due to persisting symptoms.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

The road to recovery was long and arduous for Erik. He spent two years undergoing medical treatment and care from specialists. Along the way, he also faced mental issues, which compounded the challenges he had to overcome. Although he still experiences minor symptoms today, Erik has made a remarkable recovery and is now able to work at full capacity. He is committed to using his personal experience to help others through his work at PolarCool.

In addition to his athletic achievements, Erik also boasts an impressive academic background, holding a Master of Science in Engineering Physics?and a?Bachelor of Science in Statistical Mathematics. This combination of sporting and academic achievements gives Erik a unique perspective on issues related to concussions and their long-term effects and is what ultimately drew PolarCool to approach Erik in 2018.

POLARCOOL

During his rehabilitation journey, Erik initially joined PolarCool in an operational role as a Business Area Manager within Ice Hockey. As he continued to recover and demonstrate his expertise in the field, Erik played a key role in the establishment of PolarCap? within the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and effectively assisted in the Lund University study, which was ongoing at that time.

Erik was appointed as the CEO of PolarCool in 2020. Since taking on this role, the company has experienced several milestones. One notable accomplishment was the publication of a 5-year study in the Journal of Neurotrauma, which demonstrated the effectiveness of PolarCap? in reducing the severity and duration of concussion symptoms.

Furthermore, PolarCap? has been increasingly adopted across various professional ice hockey leagues in the EU, including the SHL's continuing league-wide implementation in providing treatment to players. In addition to ice hockey, PolarCap? has been making inroads in other sports and markets such as Rugby and Football in the U.K and France. Erik's leadership and commitment to the product and its mission have been instrumental in driving PolarCool's progress.?

When asked about PolarCool, Erik is optimistic about the future of the company and its potential to make a positive impact on the world of sports. He believes that the growing awareness of concussion and its long-term effects on athletes is increasing the demand for innovative solutions, such as PolarCap?, that can help protect and improve the health of players.

Erik anticipates that this rising demand will result in an acceleration of sales in 2023 and beyond as more clubs and organizations acknowledge the importance of investing in the health and safety of their athletes.?

SICO – SWEDISH ICE HOCKEY’S PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

Alongside his role with PolarCool, Erik has also held a role as a spokesperson for concussion-related cases at SICO, which is especially significant to him. Having experienced the long-term effects of concussions firsthand, Erik is passionate about using his knowledge and platform to make a positive difference. Through SICO, Erik is available for players to reach out and speak with when having suffered concussions that are undergoing lengthy recoveries. In this role, Erik is always willing to share his own experiences that he gathered during his rehabilitation journey.

When asked about his thoughts on his role with SICO, Erik stated, "It is a very important thing. I am passionate about helping to find solutions and aids to partly increase the players' safety and partly to be able to help players who have suffered concussions." Erik's commitment to this cause is evident in everything he does, and he remains a driving force for change within the world of ice hockey and professional sports.