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Five things to know: Sweden's sledge hockey team
Find out five fun facts about eighth-ranked Sweden leading up to the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. 06 Jan 2014
Per Kasperi, left, takes handle of the puck at the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Qualification Tournament in Torino, Italy, where Sweden qualified for Sochi 2014 by finishing third.
Leading scorer Per Kasperi said he models his game after the NHL’s Sidney Crosby from Canada.
1. Sweden have participated in ice sledge hockey at every Paralympic Winter Games since the sport became a part of the Paralympic programme in 1994.
2. The age range of the Swedish team’s players spans 31 years – from 17 to 48.
3. Sweden tend to keep a stereo in their locker room to get players pumped up for all their games. They blast mostly rock and hip-hop music.
4. Leading scorer Per Kasperi said he models his game after the NHL’s Sidney Crosby from Canada.
5. Sweden were one of the first countries to practice ice sledge hockey. The sport actually originated at a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, Sweden, during the early 1960’s by a group of Swedes, who despite their physical impairments, wanted to continue playing hockey. The sport caught on quickly, and, by 1969, Stockholm had a five-team league.
