Ice Hockey

In Sweden, ice hockey is HUGE, especially now given that the Winter Olympics had just passed. Sweden had also just lost to Canada, coming in 2nd place.

In fact, when we were in Lapland the Canadians on the trip made sure that the Swedes knew that Canada beat them.

Swede tour guide: "There are many great Swedish hockey players that come from this town. So if you see a little boy playing hockey, he might become famous someday."

Canadian: "Oh" -smugly- "We have them in Canada"

-While playing some card game-

Swede: 2nd again! Why am I always 2nd?!

Canadian: Oh it's just like hockey

(Nice but low haha)

So what is exchange in Sweden without an ice hockey match?

On Saturday, we (Nigel CH Xixi Leehe Kenelm) headed to Ericsson Globe to catch an ice hockey match in the Swedish Hockey League

Before the game

"Power Play"

Ice hockey is a cooler, faster, rougher and yet more graceful version of hockey. They would break out in fights occasionally too. During the game, 2 players were from both teams were fighting. The referee broke them up. A few seconds later, a player from AIK goes over to punch the opposing player. He subsequently got thrown in the penalty box (duh), but the crowd (mostly home team supporters) went absolutely MADDD.

Something interesting happened during the game too, and I wished that I had caught it on video. A youth with down syndrome started wandering around the front of the stadium. He was obviously an AIK supporter, clad with the jersey and scarf around his head. Out of the blue, he started cheering and the crowd actually followed him!! It led to him leading the crowd in a cheer for a good half a minute! Amazing stuff.