Core Sports
European Career Planners

Sweden

N/A

Key Facts

Also known as: Core Sports Sweden; Core Sports Norden AB
Founded: 2020 as a hockey-agency operation
Headquarters: Helsingborg, Sweden; public hockey-agency databases do not list a fixed office city
Other offices: None publicly listed
Agency type: Boutique / European hockey agency
Ownership: Robin Borg / Core Sports Norden AB
Primary markets: SHL, HockeyAllsvenskan, HockeyEttan, Liiga, DEL, Norway, Switzerland, wider European pro market
Players ($0 public active NHL contract value): 40+ total clients; 0 NHL clients; 4 NHL-drafted clients. No active NHL contract value or active NHL cap hit is publicly listed.
Key agents: Robin Borg, SICO Certified Player Agent
Languages: Swedish, English
Contact email: info@coresports.se; rb@coresports.se
Phone / WhatsApp: +46 70 291 77 88
Website: https://www.coresports.se/

About Core Sports

Core Sports is a Swedish boutique hockey agency led by Robin Borg. Borg came from an elite tennis background before moving into sports business, studying economics and marketing in the United States while competing as an athlete. He later started his own sports-products business, then moved toward athlete representation after developing a stronger business-side interest in hockey. Core Sports publicly emerged as a hockey agency in 2020, with Patrik Zackrisson and Jonas Ahnelöv among its first prominent clients. The agency has since grown into a 42-client European roster built mainly around Swedish and North American players in Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Norway.

Core’s public identity is not NHL-contract heavy; it is more of a Europe-first career-management shop. Its visible strength is helping players move between HockeyAllsvenskan, SHL-adjacent opportunities, Liiga, DEL, and other European leagues. The agency emphasizes the full career arc: contract negotiation, market analysis, sponsorships, legal guidance, PR/image work, media support, training, nutrition, mental health, and financial planning. That “through your career, after your career” positioning is a real differentiator among smaller European agencies. Core has also become visible around Södertälje SK, with Patrik Zackrisson, A.J. Vanderbeck, Hampus Harlestam, and other Core-linked names tied to the club’s recent roster-building. The agency is best read as a selective European placement and career-support firm rather than a North American NHL pipeline agency.

Client Roster

Top NHL players

• No active NHL clients are publicly listed for Core Sports.

Top professional players

• Tim Söderlund [KalPa] – F – Sweden – 1998-01-23

• Patrik Zackrisson [Södertälje SK] – F – Sweden – 1987-03-27

• Julius Bergman [Free agent; last Nybro Vikings IF] – D – Sweden – 1995-11-02

• Christopher Bengtsson [AIK] – F – Sweden – 1993-10-19

• Allan McShane [Kalmar HC] – F – Canada – 2000-02-14

• A.J. Vanderbeck [Södertälje SK] – F – USA – 1997-09-23

• Henrik Larsson [Vålerenga] – D – Sweden – 1994-11-18

• Tobias Ekberg [Mora IK] – D – Sweden – 1994-01-13

• Markus Modigs [Vålerenga] – F – Sweden – 1992-04-06

• Maximilian Eisenmenger [Iserlohn Roosters] – F – Germany / Sweden – 1998-08-21

Prospects & young talents

• Arvid Degerstedt [Mora IK] – F – Sweden – 1999-05-22

• Allan McShane [Kalmar HC] – F – Canada – 2000-02-14

• No high-profile draft-eligible NCAA/CHL prospects are publicly prominent in the current Core Sports profile.

Notable former clients

• Jonas Ahnelöv – one of Core Sports’ first prominent hockey clients; veteran Swedish defenseman and national-team player.

• Tim Söderlund – formerly signed an NHL entry-level contract with Chicago before later moving into Core’s European-client profile.

• Patrik Zackrisson – not a former client, but a foundational Core Sports client and early agency foothold.

Highlights

• Negotiation style: personal, long-term, and Europe-market focused.

• Swedish accreditation: Robin Borg is SICO certified, allowing him to negotiate with Swedish clubs.

• Network strengths: HockeyAllsvenskan, SHL-adjacent markets, Liiga, DEL, Norway, and European import placement.

• Development pipeline: Swedish veterans, North American imports, NHL-drafted players returning to Europe, and career-reset players.

• Differentiator: full-career planning, including post-playing career, financial guidance, PR/image, training, nutrition, and mental health.

• Market identity: stronger in European club movement than NHL contract volume.

Agency Snapshot

Origin story

• Robin Borg moved from elite tennis and sports-business experience into hockey representation after completing SICO certification.

• Core Sports launched publicly in 2020 with a small but credible start through established Swedish veterans.

• The agency’s early identity was built around offering the “whole package”: contract work, performance support, mental training, and post-career planning.

Milestones

• 2020 – Core Sports launched as Robin Borg’s hockey-agency platform.

• 2020 – Patrik Zackrisson and Jonas Ahnelöv became early prominent clients.

• 2024 – Julius Bergman signed a multi-year Nybro Vikings agreement running toward 2026-27, later ended early in 2026.

• 2025 – Patrik Zackrisson moved from Leksand to Södertälje SK and became a key veteran figure.

• 2025 – Tobias Ekberg joined Mora IK from Tappara.

• 2026 – Tim Söderlund moved from TPS to KalPa and became an immediate late-season Liiga impact player.

• 2026 – A.J. Vanderbeck extended with Södertälje SK through 2026-27.

• 2026 – Allan McShane signed with Kalmar HC for the 2026-27 season.

• 2026 – Maximilian Eisenmenger returned to the DEL with Iserlohn Roosters on a deal through 2026-27.

Network strengths

• Sweden: HockeyAllsvenskan, SHL-adjacent clubs, Swedish veteran leadership market, Södertälje SK connections.

• Finland: Liiga movement, including Tim Söderlund’s TPS-to-KalPa transfer.

• Germany: DEL placement, including Maximilian Eisenmenger with Iserlohn.

• Norway: Vålerenga pathway through players such as Henrik Larsson and Markus Modigs.

• Specialty lanes: European contract placement, imports to Sweden, veterans changing leagues, and post-career planning.

Support Team / Partners

• Robin Borg – founder, certified Swedish player agent, negotiation lead, career planning.

• NAIA – listed partner on Core Sports’ website.

• ACTA – listed partner on Core Sports’ website.

• Starck & Partner – listed partner on Core Sports’ website.

• Vitargo – listed partner on Core Sports’ website; sports nutrition/performance support.

• External legal advisors – contract and legal guidance as needed.

• External banking/financial partners – budgeting, wealth planning, and post-career planning.

• PR/media partners – image development and press-service support.

Notable Deals Led by Core Sports

• 2026 – A.J. Vanderbeck: Södertälje SK – extension – through 2026-27 – value undisclosed.

• 2026 – Allan McShane: Troja-Ljungby → Kalmar HC – HockeyAllsvenskan signing – 2026-27 season – value undisclosed.

• 2026 – Tim Söderlund: TPS → KalPa – Liiga transfer/signing – through end of 2025-26 – value undisclosed.

• 2025 – Patrik Zackrisson: Leksands IF → Södertälje SK – HockeyAllsvenskan signing – 2025-26 season – value undisclosed.

• 2025 – Tobias Ekberg: Tappara → Mora IK – HockeyAllsvenskan signing – 2025-26 season – value undisclosed.

• 2025 – Maximilian Eisenmenger: Malmö Redhawks → Iserlohn Roosters – DEL signing – through 2026-27 – value undisclosed.

• 2024 – Julius Bergman: Nybro Vikings IF – multi-year HockeyAllsvenskan contract – through 2026-27 before early separation – value undisclosed.

• 2020 – Patrik Zackrisson and Jonas Ahnelöv: early Core Sports representation wins – established the agency’s first visible senior-client base.

Track Record (Last 3 Seasons)

• NHL contracts signed: 0 public NHL contracts.

• Total public NHL value signed: $0.

• Total active NHL contract value: $0.

• Total active NHL cap hit: $0.

• Extensions/renewals: A.J. Vanderbeck extended with Södertälje SK through 2026-27.

• ELCs signed: 0 public NHL entry-level contracts.

• RFA outcomes: no public NHL RFA outcomes.

• Arbitration cases: 0 public NHL arbitration filings/hearings.

• Europe transfers/signings: at least 7 visible public moves or renewals across Sweden, Finland, and Germany from 2024-26.

• Agency profile: Europe-focused, with most value in club placement, player support, and career continuity rather than public NHL dollars.

Compliance & Accreditation

• Robin Borg is listed as a SICO Certified Player Agent.

• SICO-certified agents are the recognized group allowed to negotiate with Swedish clubs.

• No NHLPA-certified agent is publicly attached to Core Sports.

• No national federation registrations outside Sweden are prominently listed.

• Professional liability insurance is not publicly stated.

• No public ethics, disciplinary, or compliance issues were found in reliable public materials.

Testimonials

• Robin Borg – agency philosophy: “I offer the whole package.”

• Aftonbladet – media characterization: “Södertälje has a clear line to Robin Borg’s agency Core Sports.”

• Allan McShane – Kalmar HC signing: “I was really impressed by Kalmar as an organization.”

• Kalmar HC sporting director Daniel Stolt – on McShane: “a responsible center who will also deliver points.”

Press, Awards & Recognition

• 2020 – Robin Borg’s move into hockey representation and Core Sports’ launch profiled by Aftonbladet.

• 2020 – Patrik Zackrisson and Jonas Ahnelöv identified as early Core Sports clients.

• 2025 – Patrik Zackrisson’s Södertälje SK move covered by Swedish hockey media.

• 2026 – Tim Söderlund’s TPS-to-KalPa transfer and strong Liiga run covered by Finnish and Swedish hockey outlets.

• 2026 – Aftonbladet highlighted Södertälje SK’s visible link to Core Sports clients.

• 2026 – Core Sports remains listed through SICO as a certified Swedish hockey-agent operation.