Crazy Swedes

A bit of game action..

There are two kinds of Swedes: those who attend hockey games and those who don't.

Good lord.  I thought, as Canadians, we are pretty crazy fans.  We shout, we swear, we make it obvious when we aren't happy with a call, and we let it all out when our "boys" score a goal.  Think of Towel Power, and what most recently comes to mind, the Green Guys.  We proudly say that hockey is "our game."
Think again..

After attending my first Swedish Hockey game, I have to say that Swedish fans come pretty close to us  - they aren't afraid to show their team pride in the arena!

No shot of Larsson from the front, but here he is from the back like a stalker pic!

Elitserien is the Swedish Elite League. This is the league (notably the team Modo from Örnsköldsvik) that has produced such players as Markus Naslund, the Sedins, Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin - basically, any Swedish NHL player was in this league at one point in his life!  The league is comprised of 12 teams from across Sweden, and has many young prospective NHL players, or players who aren't able to compete at the NHL caliber.

Although it would have been AWESOME to see Modo play, we went to Stockholm to watch Stockholm AIK play against Skelleteå AIK.  Both teams are pretty good in the standings, and we really wanted to catch a glimpse of the young kid, Adam Larsson, who is considered within the top 3 NHL draft prospects for 2011.  Tickets for 11th row seats were just 185 SEK, which is under $30 Canadian!

Let me give you a brief description of my time there...

First of all, Hovet, the home arena in Stockholm, is super tiny, with a capacity of just 8,000 (compared to Rogers Arena of about 18,000).

First hockey game for the ladies!

It was Cedric, Thomas, Anatoli, Noemie, and I who went to the game.  The boys and I gave Anatoli and Noemie a quick lesson on hockey rules before it started :)

Before the team comes out, the lights are dimmed in the arena, and cute little kids of skates come out and wave the home team (Stockholm AIK) flags...the entire stadium then chants the team song.

The players emerge from the steam castle.

Out comes the home team through a bizarre castle-like structure with steam blowing out. Everyone cheers, and then begins booing when the away teams skates in.

The Swedish National Anthem is sung...

...and the game begins!

They pay for seats, but stand the whole time!

And that's when we noticed the singing...that never ended.  You know when you watch European soccer matches, and the fans in the stands always singing?  Well, the same rule apparently applies to hockey games.  Though it's a small crowd of 8,000, every person present appears to be so passionate, and really knows the game (vs many of the Canucks "fans" that we see in Van..).

SINGING NEVER ENDS

I am so serious.  Thomas and I were laughing our heads off at the ridiculous number of chants and songs being sung.  Even when a goal is scored for the away team, they still sing.  And when the home team scores, even the CLAPPING is synchronized to the same beat: clap, clap, clap, clap!  Want to check out my video (and others from the game) that shows you what I mean? http://www.dropshots.com/katinamtam#date/2010-11-21/09:15:40

So that basically sums of Swedish hockey.  I didn't even mention the results of the game - Stockholm won, 4-2 - and good thing they did, or else there may have been some kind of riot.  And I did get to see Adam Larsson and a few other ex-NHL players.  The caliber is very high, and it felt like I was watching a regular NHL game (excluding the songs).

Wow.  Beneath that calm Swede sitting next to you is actually a Mr. Hyde (while not as creepy).  Go check out an Elitserien game for yourself if you don't believe me!

A great night at  a good 'ol (Swedish) hockey game.