Birger Holmquist was one of Sweden’s top players in both ice hockey and bandy in the 1920s. Holmquist began his hockey career with Kronobergs IK in 1920, but in 1921 moved to IF Göta, where he played until the end of his career in 1928. With IF Göta, Holmquist won Swedish ice hockey titles in 1922, 1924, 1927 and 1928 and bandy titles in 1925 and 1927. He was also the top goal scorer at the 1925 Swedish Championships. Holmquist played in Germany with Berliner SC from 1921-26 and won German titles in 1921 and 1923-26, also winning the 1924 Spengler Cup with them. Internationally, Holmquist earned 30 caps with the Swedish national team from 1922-28 and scored 30 goals. He won a Winter Olympic silver in 1928, which also doubled as World Championships silver and European Championships gold that year and was European Champion in 1923, while taking silvers at the 1922 and 1924 European Championships. Because of those accomplishments, Holmquist was awarded the Stora Grabbars Märke (Big Boys’ Badge) #7 in ice hockey and Stora Grabbars Märke #62 in bandy, a Swedish sports honorary award created in 1928 by Bo Ekelund.
Sweden