STORYTELLER ADAM RAMSTEDT
Ok, the video is from last year, but I felt it deserved more than just one day of life on Instagram, so here we go.
Once again the SBL Herr Finals are being played in Stadium Arena in Norrköping, and once again our friend and Storyteller Adam Ramstedt is a key figure in the series. Adam is a 4x National Champion, and I first got to know him as he came back from a stint in Hungary to finish the 2018-19 season with his hometown club, SBBK. Back then, they were still called Södertälje Kings and he grew up in the club, won his first title as a young up and coming role player in 2016 under Vedran Bosnic. But in his return he was one of the main pieces that consisted of multiple former and current National Team players, led by Team Captain Martin Pahlmblad and Alexander Lindqvist, and later on joined by Jonathan Person. As I was called in to do a promo video to announce his homecoming, I spent some hours in the gym and a studio, and immediately felt he was e very humble star. 
Kings was a great team, and I was lucky to spend the entire season with them. We did some really cool things, and I remember both Team Manager Atena and Coach Ludde telling me the chemistry turned to 100% when Adam came. As they advanced to the Finals, the club moved out from Täljehallen to the bigger hockey stadium, Scaniarinken, and it was a crazy atmosphere. Close to 5000 people in the stands, and Kings going up against Borås. Adam didn't only join forces with some friends from the National Team, but also his younger brother Hampus. They won the title that year, and during the celebrations in the locker room, I saw Adam embracing the title run with his little brother with a lot of pride. The next season Adam decided to move on to SBL debuting Djurgården, but it got cut short because of Covid-19. In 2020-21 he signed in Norrköping were he established himself as one of the best players in the nation, as he was named DPOY and First Team, and won the title as the Finals MVP. Not too bad, right?
For the beginning of 2021-22 he played in Poland, but came back to Norrköping and helped them try for a repeat. They reached the Finals and matched up against Jämtland who's coached by the great Adnan Chuck. During that Finals run, I sat down at his house to talk about his journey.
Once again, it struck me how he's still the same Adam, who once worked at the Solestory store in Stockholm back when they first opened. If I remember the story correct, Pontus used to coach him on the U18 or U20 National Teams, and Adam wanted to be involved. With that said, as Pontus has two National titles as a coach, Adam took the throne as the winningest Solestaff member, current or retired. I'm at third place with 0, but who cares.
As me and Pontus stayed in Norrköping for work, we crashed one of the practices to give Adam new soles to wear for the Finals. Because Pontus said, that it matters to him how Adam looks as he's one of ours for life. Once a Storyteller, always a Storyteller. We can't have one of the best players in the nation killing it in the Finals in worn out soles. Norrköping won the Finals, and Adam claimed his 4th title, in fresh Zions or Westbrooks.
As of right now, Norrköping leads the Finals 2-1, once again against Borås. And Adam is a main reason, most importantly he was the best played when they needed him the most, in Game 7 of the Semifinals, against last years Finals opponents. As Jämtland came back from being down 1-3 to force a Game 7 up in Östersund, many counted the Dolphins out. But not Adam.
I'm glad to see him ball out and going for a legit 3-peat, and even tho I hope the Finals goes 7 just because, it looks like Norrköping might end this in 5. He's one of the most down to earth guys you'll ever meet, and I wouldn't mind him getting a 5th title.
Because in the end titles, just like soles, matters.