The ice hockey culture in Kiruna is strong.

One of the city's ice rinks is Sweden's oldest.

Here are three associations with ice hockey teams.

Kiruna AIF plays the third highest series, Hockeyettan, and AIF is perhaps best known for having educated the great player Börje Salming.

Everyone in the association works voluntarily and right now it's all about coping with the corona pandemic. 

- We have lost a lot of activities, no Kiruna festival that we worked with, no market, and our car bingo instead of 300 was there, there were only 50 that were so we have lost a lot of revenue, says Mikael Stålnacke . 

"AIF means everything"

One who is almost always in place in Lombiahallen is the 68-year-old pensioner Ingrid Stålnacke.

She is not closely related to Mikael despite the same surname.

Ingrid is known by everyone in the association for her enormous commitment.  

- AIF means everything, except my children and grandchildren.

I do not know what would happen if they disappeared, says Ingrid Stålnacke, Kiruna AIF supporter to SVT Sport.

Seeking support from the municipality

Kiruna AIF has applied for state aid but received only a third of what was requested.

That is why they have now turned to the municipality.  

- It's exactly as they describe, we understand that, they bleed.

Nature, outdoor life and association life are the foundations of this city.

We must ensure that they survive there, we have no choice, says Gunnar Selberg (C), chairman of the municipal board to SVT Sport

"The country must live by covid"

The match income from the season's first home match in front of a maximum of 300 people proved to be sufficient to be able to pay the expenses for the next away match tour to Vännäs and Skellefteå.

But the spread of infection in Sweden is increasing and only a few days later came the news that the audience ceiling in Norrbotten has been lowered to 50 people again. 

- In the worst case, it will be that we are forced to slow down our business, put things down, and is that what is good for society?

That we do not take care of and educate the young people or make people feel proud and believe in the future?

We have different conditions throughout the country.

And the whole country must live by covid, by the pandemic, says Mikael Stålnacke, vice chairman of Kiruna AIF to SVT Sport.

See a longer report about Kiruna AIF in Agenda