…and then it comes: ”Jimmy, take a bath! Jimmy, take a bath!”
There is so much confetti you can’t even skate. The players look like Bambi on ice as they are trying to get to the locker room.
Inside it, things are still pretty quiet. There is a feeling of shock that hasn’t subsided just yet. You can hear the occasional ”YEAAAAH” and ”Way to go, guys!”
Reporters are walking around doing interviews as Champagne and water flies around the temporary, in-arena locker room.
The team gets on the bus for the two minute ride to its actual locker room. Outside, family and friends are all waiting.
When the doors open, the players are met with huge cheers.
Anton Strålman gets run over by his four overjoyed children.
Landeskog is going towards the pool. With pads and everything on, he jumps right in
nce inside the locker room, Gabriel Landeskog – still nearly fully equipped – starts running.
Where the heck is he going?
I tag along.
He is going towards the pool. With pads and everything on, he jumps right in.
In the water, he just stands there, looking at the ceiling and shouting.
“YEAAAAAH!”
He had one goal. Now he has achieved it.
I get chills thinking back to that moment.
It has been a long time since I saw such joy.
I don’t know if I have experienced such joy, ever.
I don’t have much of a choice – I get in the water.
illiam Nylander walks in with a phone and some kind of video conversation going on. He too jumps in the pool, and soon the whole team stands there singing about gold.
Then it starts: “JIMMY, TAKE A BATH! JIMMY, TAKE A BATH!”
I don’t have much of a choice – I get in the water. Without cameras, though.
I grab a towel and walk out into the locker room. There Henrik Lundqvist is, sitting with a big bag of ice on his knee, having a beer.
”Aren’t you celebrating?” I ask.
”Oh yes, I’m just sitting here enjoying the moment,” Henrik says. ”I simply enjoy listening to the guys, and my knee isn’t quite in shape for the pool right now.”
The game went to overtime and shootout and now it is getting late. The plane leaves early in the morning.
I apologize pal, my equipment is soaked. It weighs like a ton. Sorry.
Gabriel Landeskog
Anders “Pudding” Weiderstål and the others have to pack all night, despite winning the World Championship. A slice of pizza and a beer will have to do for his celebration, as he navigates the locker room.
Landeskog gives the equipment manager a hug.
“I apologize pal, my equipment is soaked. It weighs like a ton. Sorry.”
“Pudding” simply laughs. He has been here before.
Me and Marcus Krüger take matters into our own hands. We go to the central station to buy a few cases of beer.
he bus leaves for the hotel.
It is Sunday.
Everything is closed.
This is an anticlimax.
Me and Marcus Krüger take matters into our own hands. We go to the central station to buy a few cases of beer.
Back at the hotel we find a meeting room.
It turns into a relaxed and spontaneous gold celebration. Tall cans and Spotify on bluetooth speakers ends up being the party, pretty much.
But it doesn’t matter.
This feels like exactly what the players needed. The team by themselves. A chance to let the moment sink in, to realize that they actually won the World Championship.
Even though it feels a bit meager for a gold celebration. A little like riding the local bus.
The night just keeps going. It is almost 5 a.m. when we decide to shut it down.
But again, hockey players are simple people. Henrik Lundqvist could buy a night club just to throw this party and then just leave it there without taking much of a hit financially. Now he sits here in a sweat suit, drinking luke-warm beer and listening to music on a 17 dollar bluetooth speaker with crappy sound. And still he is enjoying himself with his hand in the air, happy.
It gives me a great feeling.
The night just keeps going. It is almost 5 a.m. when we decide to shut it down, reminding ourselves that ”tomorrow is a new day”.
n the flight home we are escorted by two JAS 39 Gripen from the Swedish Air Force.
Back in Stockholm the schedule is packed. The Palace for a meeting with the Royal Family, then onto the Sergels Square.
We are finally here. This was the goal all along, raising the trophy in front of the fans.
This is the moment that makes players and staff want to be a part of Tre Kronor.
These people, like my father Thomas who travels 310 miles round-trip to show his support at the square, are the reason for the national team culture we have in Sweden.
The players celebrate with the Swedish people at Sergel's torg in the central part of Stockholm.
William Nylander with the World Championship trophy.
So, don’t ever forget that, all those of you who stood there cheering that day. It means EVERYTHING to the players. Your dedication, your support.
The day is finished off with a somewhat more lavish party in the Stockholm nightlife. By then I had already put the camera down and officially checked out ? …but I still offer you this cell phone picture, as a bonus for all you wonderful readers who gave me and Tre Kronor so much love during this journey.
hank you for everything!
