A Hockey Trip to remember!

Read about the hockey trip to Linkoping and the hockey game St Louis Blues - Linkoping Hockey. Some of the headings you will find are, St. Louis Blues are waiting for the train on the platform. Blood Stain on shirt? Then I book the flight at seven ... A complete hockey coach. Pass me behind the goal, I'll shoot out the puck ... Skillful play 2-2-1 - Period 2 . Routine on keeping tight time schedule!

 

It all started with an email from SJ-prio (SJ Swedish railway) about NHL train to Linkoping (to see the hockey game Linkoping Hockey against NHL team St. Louis Blues). The trip included train tickets, dinner at the Cloetta Center, match tickets, sandwiches and beer on the return journey and mingle with NHL players. Nothing to think about, it was just to book the trip ... at a cost of SEK 395 (55 USD)! Thanks SJ!

It's time!

Tuesday 29 / 9 kl. 10:15, I was too impatient, thought I was going to go to Stockholm at 11:30 am, but I knew that I would not do anything more, so I checked out from work, took my stuff and set off by car to Stockholm. At Strangnas I started thinking about how many ice rinks, I would pass by during the good hour. Strangnas, Åker, Järna IP (outdoors), Scaniarinken (AXA sports center), Tumba, Hallunda, Mälarhöjdens ice rink ... and the Globe (Ericsson Globe) also appeared.

 

Couple of hours in Stockholm

11:30 parked my car in Traneberg and took the subway to Central Station. In town at 12:00 and the hunt for a nice place to eat began ..., I chose the fashionable Pizza Hut.
I had decided to meet up with my friend at. 14:00, but it was some time left before it, so I went to the Press Office and checked in hockey magazines, 199 SEK for the Hockey News, 159 SEK for another English hockey newspaper, but 59 SEK for the classic Pro Hockey with a guide for the NHL season and an analysis of the NHL teams. Can you guess what magazine I chose ...

Ice hockey team / NHL team St. Louis Blues

13:00 O'learys at the station, television screen showed tennis and replays of various football games ... dive into the hockey magazine. I could read this about the St. Louis Blues. During the second half of the NHL 2008/2009 season the St. Louis Blues were better than Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, better than any other team in the NHL. This year also the key player (veteran), Paul Kariya is ready for the game after the injury troubles last season. Patrik Berglund and TJ Oshie has their rookie season behind and should be the key strikers. Eric Johnson also missed the last season due to injury, he may be the next big star / big defense star in the NHL. Promising reading before tonight's hockey game.

 

NHL train from Track 12

When I got out from O'learys I see that our train has popped up among the departing trains, NHL-train to Linkoping, Track 12, departure 14.45, but before the departure of the train I met up with my friend at the hamburger chain Max, but for me it was only coffee and ice cream.

 

 

St. Louis Blues are waiting for the train on the platform

14:30 we are on the platform, but no train yet, however, the entire St. Louis organization, players, managers and others who seem to have a role around the team arrived. It was powerful to see the big stars (in some cases next big stars) line up beside us on the platform while waiting for the train to come. It seems like people around the team is almost as many as the players. (the players have been sweatshirts with St. Louis logo, the other people has black suits and neckties, folders, binders, phones, maps, lists, etc. in their hands). 5 minutes later the train arrives, car 1 and 2 are for us 40-60 "supporters", 3 and 4 to the hockey players.

 

Blood Stain on shirt?

After the departure of the train, we got information from SJ's "PR Manager"(?) And also from our forthcoming hockey guide Tomas Johansson (Djurgarden, Linkoping, now an expert commentator for Canal +) of what happens during the evening and also information of the practicalities before the hockey game, match tickets, walk to the ice rink, dinner, VIP room, etc. "Sj-man" also highlighted that Tomas Johansson is wearing a genuine(!) game used Swedish National Hockey team jersey, it’s not a replica, which he bought in a souvenir shop:) It could even have a blood stain somewhere ... I could quickly note that the shirt was clean, and newly washed ...

 

Then I book the flight at seven ...

We were told that we could not meet the hockey players in the St. Louis Blues on our trip down before the game, because they were preparing themselves for the game, but they had still managed to get Alexander Steen to talk to us! Tomas Johansson interviewed Alexander about the hockey life in the NHL. The thing I remember mostly was the answer to the question of what happened when he was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to St. Louis Blues. Alexander Steen - "I got a call from the management that they wanted to see me, so I went there, they said that, we have traded you ... …Where?... St. Louis Blues ... ...OK…, then he left and got a call 20 minutes later from a secretary / administrator of the St. Louis organization. Do you want me to book the three o'clock flight in the afternoon, or the evening flight at seven o'clock? - What, I need to bring with me at least one bag ... Then I book you at the seven flight ... So the next game I played with St. Louis, I had to hire a company to move the things we had in Toronto to St. Louis and actually I have not been in Toronto after that ... Tomas Johansson: Did you know any players in St. Louis? I knew Keith Tkachuk, who has played with my dad, Thomas Steen in Winnipeg Jets, so I've known him since I was about 8 years old, I remind him about it sometimes. Thomas also asked if Alexander had mentioned Andreas Jamtin (power forward/fighter) for his teammates? No, but I'll talk to some of the guys ... if it would be something. He mentioned that they had some guys who could handle such situations. Which players should we keep an extra eye on? 6 Erik Johnson, 7 Keith Tkachuk, 9 Paul Kariya, 10 Andy McDonald and 74 T.J. Oshie

 

A video of hockey life in Toronto (sorry, only in Swedish)

 

 

 

St Louis Blues on the train to Linkoping

The tip 6-2 to Linkoping against St. Louis Blues

Arriving in Linkoping, we followed Thomas Johansson to the hockey arena Cloetta Center, where we were met up at the entrance of Linkoping Hockey club director Mike Helber, who showed us to the VIP bar. After a few words about the Linkoping Hockey Club, we dig into the American buffet, with chicken salad, salmon, coleslaw, chicken wings, ribs and baked potato with cheddar on. Before even putting the fork into the chicken, Mikael "Musse/Mickey" Hakansson stood in the middle of the bar and got the some questions about tonight's game from Tomas Johansson. Mikael Hakansson talked about the difficult beginning for the team in the league, before he was asked to tip the outcome of tonight's game. The tip from "Musse/Mickey" was 6-2 to Linkoping.

 

 

A complete hockey coach

During the meal me and my friend had an interesting discussion about hockey, hockey coaching and hockey coaches with Thomas Johansson when he sat beside us at dinner. We discussed everything from hockey fees, young people's interest in hockey, today's hockey sticks, Peter Forsberg and hockey coaches. I asked Thomas how he would describe some of the leaders whom he had had. Lasse Falk, skilled, but not socially. Niklas Wikegard, amazing ice practices, Hardy Nilsson, complete, has the whole picture. Raimo Summanen, "a madman". Who is / was best? Hardy Nilsson, he is complete and has the overall picture. Thomas also believed that we would see it this year in the development the team Djurgarden Hockey.

 

Pass me behind the goal, I'll shoot out the puck ...

When Thomas finished eating his food, he took place in the middle again and told a little story about the NHL's history. He also made an interesting description of Gretzky’s different records, before he told us about Linkoping hockey team and the club. I especially remember his description of the goalie Fredrik Norrena. Tomas told us about how Norrena come to him during a box play and said, if you Thomas get the puck, pass it to me behind the goal and I will shoot it out from the zone. It was the first time he had received such a directive from a goalkeeper!

 

Organized chaos during warm up

18:20 it was time for warm up on ice, Linkoping ran some classic Swedish warm-up drills while the St. Louis Blues had some "organized chaos" out on the ice. The player who caught my eyes out on the rink, was the veteran Keith Tkachuk, he was without a helmet during the whole warm up in a classic NHL spirit.

 

Video from St. Louis Blues warm up

 

Video warm up Linkoping Hockey

 

19:00 Linkoping & St Louis Blues enters the ice

 

Time for the face off

 

 

Force/Power-demonstration on the ice - Period 1

91 Andreas Jamtin is taken care of, in front of the goal by 5 Barret Jackman and 46 Roman Polak. In the following situation Jamtin is hit by Polak in the corner. Jamtin starts to push him with his gloves but get hit by Jackman. Did Alexander Steen after all mention him to his teammates? Otherwise St Louis Blues dominate the period completely and wins it 2-0 after goals by David Perron (Erik Johnson) 1:12 och Carlo Colaiacovo (B.J. Crombeen, Alex Steen) 6:28

Skillful play 2-2-1 - Period 2

St Louis Blues continued to dominate the second period with speed, strength, effectivity in front of goal and with a skilful 2-2-1 play, where they were closing the borders and the middle zone. The period ended 3-0 and the total score was 5-0! The goals were made by Patrik Berglund (Brad Winchester, T.J. Oshie) 9:49, Paul Kariya (Keith Tkachuk, Brad Boyes) 12:56, Paul Kariya (power play) (unassisted) 15:55

 

 

St Louis Blues 2-2-1

 

Controlling the game - Period 3

St louis continued to play well in the third period, but maybe not with same power and pressure as in the first two periods. Maybe they were already thinking of the against Detroit Red Wings? The last goal 6-0 was made by Alexander Steen (Mike Weaver) 11:02

 

 

Summary of the match

St. Louis is in the beginning of their season, NHL premiere is 2 October against the Detroit Red Wings. This was the seventh training/practice game, the team has after the game against Linkoping five victories, one draw and one loss.

St. Louis was amazing, Linkoping tried, but could not do more on the ice. St. Louis players were a bit better in everything, skating, strength, speed, technique, passing. Above all, they were effective in front of the goal and straight / fast in their plays up from own zone. In addition, they used five attacking formations, four defensemen pairs and three goalkeepers, and the result was still 6-0! I was really impressed by the team on the ice and think they can actually go far this year in the NHL. If you want to bet on Blues they have the money back 22 times for the Conference victory and 50 times for the Stanley Cup at Unibet. They may not be be able to make it all the way, but the odds are still high and worth to bet on? 100 SEK on Blues for the Stanley Cup victory ; )

Game Facts Linkoping - St. Louis Blues

Period 1
0-1 St. Louis – David Perron (Erik Johnson) 1:12
0-2 St. Louis – Carlo Colaiacovo (B.J. Crombeen, Alex Steen) 6:28

Period 2
0-3 St. Louis – Patrik Berglund (Brad Winchester, T.J. Oshie) 9:49
0-4 St. Louis – Paul Kariya (Keith Tkachuk, Brad Boyes) 12:56
0-5 St. Louis – Paul Kariya (power play) (unassisted) 15:55

Period 3
0-6 St. Louis - Alexander Steen (Mike Weaver) 11:02

Målvakter: Chris Mason (period 1), Ty Conklin (period 2), Ben Bishop (period 3)

 

Routine on keeping tight time schedule!

After the game (it ended 21:36) we met up in the VIP bar, before we together would go back to the NHL train. I managed to do a quick visit to the popular souvenir shop. I bought a Linkoping Hockey Shirt in size 130 cm. Not for their performance on the ice, but because I thought that a 5-year-old boy surely would like a blue / white shirt with a lion on... The train would depart at. 22:15 to Stockholm. What impressed me most was that all of the St. Louis Blues players and managers sat on the 22:10 train! So only half an hour after the match ended. The players had a big dinner, while we others got a great baguette with free of choice beverage.

Do you need to sleep?

Some of St. Louis players showed up quickly in the restaurant car (including Patrik Berglund), but we took the decision to go to the car one, to sleep for a short time before arrival in Stockholm. We arrived at the station 00:15, the St. Louis players stepped off the train and walked to the hotel. We took the subway to Alvik and walked up the hill to Traneberg.

01:00 in bed ... 02:32 awake... 06:30 the phone rang to wake-up, a refreshing shower and in to the car with the direction of Eskilstuna. 08:12 at work. Home at 16:40, as enthusiastic as ever, despite a few hours less sleep than normally, but this kind of experience can replace lost hours easily.

Wow what a trip, Wow what a day, what memory! A hockey trip to remember!

 

And as you propably already now the St Louis Blues won the both games against Detroit Red Wings!

The Linkoping Jersey then? It was popular ... what a nice lion!

 

St Louis Blues break out

 

 

St Louis Blues 4-5 in the neutral zone

 

 

 

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