Page 19 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 8

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Swedish Team Kungälv Comes to Cornwall

By Vincent Cama

It’s not everyday Cornwall plays
host to guests from halfway around
the world.
For the seventh straight year,
the Seaway Valley Rapids hosted a
bantam hockey team, along with 92
family and friends, from Kungälv,
Sweden. While a mutual love for
hockey may have brought them
together, the reason this event has
become such a welcome tradition
for both sides for the better part of a
decade goes much deeper.
It began seven years ago, largely
on the initiative of Swedish organizer
Lars-Ove Haraldsson. Haraldsson
was a childhood friend of former
Cornwall Ace and Quebec Nordiques
Niklas Andersson and would often
travel to Cornwall to visit during
Andersson’s tenure in Cornwall,
getting to know the town and its
people. Being involved in minor For the seventh consecutive year the Seaway Valley Rapids Bantams welcomed a team from Kungälv,
hockey in Sweden in the intervening Sweden. Following the final game, the team’s enjoyed a traditional jersey swap. Photo by Vincent Cama

years, an opportunity arose to take
the Kungälv team overseas. Cornwall home at the Ramada Inn. The Swedes half their team) to make it a truly everybody.”

was the first place he thought of. had more than one stop on this trip, international affair. Seaway Valley Kungälv’s head coach Martin

“It’s not only the local history (in including going to Toronto to take in took the first game against Kungälv
Cornwall),” said Haraldsson of why a Raptors game and New York to see on Friday March 29 by a score of 7-3. Larsson was also impressed and had
some parting words for his hosts. “I
he felt Cornwall was the right place Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers. There was a great crowd on hand along would like to send a message,” he
for Kungälv, “but the overall feeling According to Haraldsson though, with city councilor David Murphy said. “A thank you to the people of
about the big part that hockey plays in Cornwall has never come up short who did the ceremonial puck drop Cornwall and the trainers and Lars
the life of Canada is quite astounding in providing the most memorable and local author, hockey historian and from us who keeps the connections,

for us to see.” experience. former police officer Thom Racine so probably we’ll be back with
The developmental curve for “The experience here in Cornwall who did the announcing.
young players in Sweden is much with the families, the bonds, the Kungälv had a better showing another team next year.”
different than their Canadian friendship…that’s what counts” said beating the Americans the following Kungälv gives back
counterparts. Unlike the players on Haraldsson. “I’ve been talking to so afternoon and playing the Rapids Friendship wasn`t the only thing
Seaway Valley who have been hand- many kids years after and nine out close right to the end in the final the Kungälv team brought with them

picked as the best in their region after of ten, when you ask them what the game of the series but still losing 2-1. from Sweden. Knowing they`d be
a try-out process, the Kungälv team best part of the trip was, they say the But for all sides, the games were of on their way to Toronto and New
has been together, as a team, since time in Cornwall with the families. secondary importance. York after their stay in Cornwall,
they were seven years old. The trip to That’s comforting and gives you “It’s more away from the rink and they stuffed their hockey bags full
Cornwall is the culmination of their hope for the future. The meeting is how similar (the Kungälv kids) are to of their old, slightly ill-fi tting, but
time together before they can choose still the essential thing of the whole our kids,” said Seaway Valley head also immensely useable, hockey
to move on to the more competitive experience. ” coach Jason Norman. “We’re having equipment. The intention? To leave
levels. It’s a big deal. Seaway Valley and Kungälv more fun at home with the families said equipment with local charities
As it has been every year since the squared off twice over the weekend than they do at the rink. They play leaving plenty of room in their hockey
event began, the Swedish kids were and a third team from Louisville, NY hockey year round so hockey is just bags for the shopping they’d be doing
taken in by the Seaway Valley families joined the mix (despite their season the same thing but when they come in Toronto and NY. Now there’s a
while the Swedish families made their ending a month earlier and missing home it’s a unique experience for plan that works for everybody.

“People Pulling Together for you”

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