Kent Boys Varsity Hockey: A Swedish Excursion

Following a 3-0-1 performance in the Avon Christmas Tournament, the Kent boys varsity hockey team embarked on a Scandinavian sojourn for 7 days, arriving in Copenhagen on December 27.  From there, they took a bus ride to Helsingborg, Sweden, where the team set up home base.  Helsingborg, a city with a population of 140,000 is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea at the narrowest point between Sweden and Denmark.  The team’s hotel sat at the base of an historic Danish landmark known as Castle Karnan. 

Sightseeing was a major component of the trip.  The team spent one day visiting the Kronberg Castle in Denmark, the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  While there, the team participated in a guided tour led by Hamlet’s trusted friend and servant Horatio.  

The team also spent a day in Copenhagen, including a guided boat tour of the city via its canal system. Finally, the team took in a Swedish Hockey League (SHL) game of the Malmo Redhawks.  The home team won, and afterwards our students met several American players on the team including Noah Welch, a Harvard graduate and former NEPSAC player.  There was ample time for team building activities as players competed in a friendly game of paintball, in ropes course activities, and charade competitions at the “Borgan Castle.”

Team members also engaged in several traditional Swedish activities during the trip, including a Swedish Sauna that involved a “polar plunge” into the frigid Baltic, all the while savoring the customary meals of Swedish Meatballs and Biff a la Lindstrom.  

In addition to all the fun, some hockey was played as well.  The team practiced twice at the Jonstorp arena in Jonstorp, Sweden.  Kent played a combination of U18 and U20 teams losing two hard fought games against Malmo (5-4) and Rogle (5-4 in OT), before winning the finale 7-4 over the Halmstad Hammers.  The Rogle game was played at the SHL team’s rink that seats approximately 8,000. 

The week culminated with a New Year’s Eve event at the hotel where the team was able to witness the USA vs. Canada World Junior Championship game and then head out to the square for fireworks at midnight – a surreal event, that made for some fantastic photo opportunities.

Team members arrived home on January 2 just in time to resume their studies and the regular hockey season.  It was certainly a trip to remember and could not have been accomplished without the efforts of head coach Dale Reinhardt, his staff, and Anders and Eva Lundin, parents of Gustav Lundin ’17.