The Pens and Sens began their 2008-09 campaign in Stockholm, Sweden in order to give the European fans a taste of real NHL hockey. This seems like the perfect place to open the season – in the land that offered the NHL a smorgasbord of incredible players including Peter Forsberg, Nik Lidstrom, the Sedin twins, Markus Naslund, Henrik Zetterberg, and Ulf Samuelsson among others.
The Penguins took in the sights of the city, participated in a scavenger hunt and I’m sure enjoyed seeing the lovely blonde women of Sweden.
Fortunately, I have a friend who lives in Finland who made the trip to the amazing Globen Arena to take in the game. Fredrik is a fan of European-style hockey; he enjoys seeing more skill and less fighting than we are used to in the NHL, but he was excited to have the chance to see the Pens live and in person.
Fredrik sent a long, newsy email all about the second game, the one that took place on Sunday Oct.5th won by the Senators. Here are some of the highlights he mentioned:
- He met two German guys who were Sens fans, but he noticed many NHL jerseys from all the teams, not just the Pens and Sens
- A female rock band was the entertainment before the game
- The fans seemed very “polite” and applauded after both the U.S. and Canadian anthems, but cheered heartily and sang along with the Swedish one
- He saw many jerseys but Crosby’s and Lemieux’s were the most common
- The crowd was fairly quiet during the game, which we could tell from watching TV. There was a large contingent of Sens fans who cheered, Go, Sens, Go
- By the atmosphere, though, it was obvious that this was “the real thing”, not exhibition
- The fans seemed to cheer equally for goals and assists, especially when Daniel Alfredsson picked up assists
- The Globen Arena, igloo-shaped like Mellon Arena, was well-suited to the game
- NHL09 was for sale in the concourses along with other NHL merchandise
My favorite part of the email was this passage: “The biggest cheers of the game didn’t go to any player on the ice,” Fredrik said. “But when Mario Lemieux was shown on the Jumbotron watching the game, a huge cheer went up. Mario waved to the crowd.”
#66 also celebrated his birthday in Sweden, at the October 5 game. The great Borje Salming appeared on the Jumbotron and received a great reception as well.
“I felt that Malkin was definitely the most impressive and dominant individual player,” Fredrik said. “He drew applause as he made a nice deke to put the puck on his skate and as he moved the puck forward by batting at it in mid air!”
The team traveled back to North America on Monday. They had awhile to rest before the opening game against the New Jersey Devils at Mellon on Saturday night.
Again this year, in the words of the Swedish group ABBA, “The Winner Takes it All.” Let’s hope the trip to Sweden bodes well as the Pens take it all this year after coming so close last year.
______________________________________________________________
Some of you may know that I live about 20 miles north of Houston, Texas. Of course, we were impacted by Hurricane Ike. I waited 17 long days (and nights) for my power to come back on. My telephone and Internet came back 25 days later. But I was lucky. I survived and my home wasn’t damaged. So many others weren’t as fortunate. But people here pulled together, helped each other, and will rebuild.
These are salt of the earth people. They are good, God-fearing people, church goers who watch their sons and daughters go off to Iraq. In such hard economic times, I don’t know how they will recover. If you feel inclined, please think about helping. One organization taking contributions is www.bushclintoncoastalfund.org. Past Presidents George Herbert Walker Bush and Bill Clinton are teaming up again to help raise money for people to put their lives back together again. There are other groups as well. A quick Google search will bring up some more.
Seeing the devastation first hand makes it hard not to want to help.
Thanks,
Jan
And many thanks to Fredrik for sharing his experience and photos with us...You ROCK, Fredrik!!!
Recent Lounge Columns
Jan Snyder: Almost Time
Jen: Penguins Town Hall Meeting
Lisa Ovens: On Location
Jan Snyder: No Mercy
Lisa Ovens: Hordi
Lisa Ovens: The Hockey PLanet Spins 2008
Jan Snyder: Scott Morrison Interview Part one and Two
2007/08 Jan Sndyer Lounge Columns
Simply Red
But For a Bounce
Sacrifice
Back to Detroit We Go
Mowed Down in Motown Part Two
Mowed Down in Motown Part One
Of Octopi and Penguins
Why We are Here
Pens Come Home and Rule the Roost
Oranged Juiced
Orange Crushed
Talbot Tickles the Twine
Jen's Playoff Report
Flashy Fleury
Crosby's Here!
Thanks to Hossa!
No Donut for You!
Beeeees!
Ooh La La
Donut Time
Ding!Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
Open Letter to Lisa
Badger Bob
Jan's Jottings
Recent Columns from Lisa Ovens
In Memory of Luc Bourdon
Wings, Pens, Jan and Don
Sugar Cookies
Playoff Fashion Issue
Public Service Announcement
A Game Six Weekend
Playoff Reprt: From Lisa's Sofa
2008 Swag OFF: Playoff Edition
Her Team Nashville
The Playoff Planet Spins
Becoming a Blanket NHL Fan
Happy Birthday to Me!
Green Hockey Players
|
