Holger Nurmela

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameHolger•Nurmela
Used nameHolger•Nurmela
Nick/petnamesHogge
Born28 October 1920 in Stockholm, Stockholm (SWE)
Died1 March 2005 in Uttran, Botkyrka, Stockholm (SWE)
AffiliationsHammarby IF, Södermalm, Stockholm (SWE) / AIK, Solna (SWE)
NOC Sweden
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 1

Biography

Left winger Holger Nurmela is considered one of the best Swedish forwards in the late 1940s and early 50s. Nurmela started to play hockey with Hammarby IF in 1938 and after having short spells with AIK (1950-52) and Saltsjöbadens IF (1952-55), finished his career again with Hammarby in 1955-56. With Hammarby, Nurmela won three Swedish titles (1942, 1943, 1945) and was the leading goal scorer at the Swedish championships in 1949 and 1950. Internationally, Nurmela was capped 112 times between 1938-56 and scored 84 goals. He won an Olympic bronze in 1952, was a World Champion in 1953 and won World Championships silver in 1947 and bronze in 1954. He was a European Champion in 1952 and 1953, while taking silvers in 1947, 1949, 1954 and 1956 and bronze at the 1950 European Championships. He also won silver at the 1941 Unofficial European Championships. Nurmela was awarded the Stora Grabbars Märke (Big Boys’ Badge) #28 in ice hockey, a Swedish sports honorary award created in 1928 by Bo Ekelund. After finishing his sporting career, Nurmela worked for years as a coach with Hammarby IF.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1948 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) SWE Holger Nurmela
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Sweden 4
1952 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) SWE Holger Nurmela
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Sweden 3 Bronze
1956 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) SWE Holger Nurmela
Ice Hockey, Men (Olympic) Sweden 4

Special Notes