Fifteen Oxford hockey players can now say they’re undefeated in Sweden.
After playing four exhibition games in the Scandinavian country between Aug. 25 and Sept. 1, Oxford emerged with a victorious record of 3-0-1.
‘We came out fighting,? said Dave Hague, coach of the Oxford High School varsity hockey team. ‘They were just incredible games. There’s no doubt they stepped up their level of play for that week.?
The Swedes? speed and finesse was simply no match for Oxford’s more aggressive, physical style of play.
‘We hit a lot more than they do,? said Defenseman Justin Ziegelbaur, a senior at Oxford High School. ‘We were attacking them more.?
Despite their victories, Ziegelbaur said Oxford players learned many new drills from the Swedes which they’re planning to incorporate into their practices ‘to get us moving faster and passing better.?
Soaking up the culture
When they weren’t on the ice, the players were busy learning and observing the Scandinavian way of life in the Swedish cities of Sandviken, Tyreso and Stockholm, the nation’s capital.
‘It was quite an eye-opening experience for them,? said parent Jeff Ziegelbaur, who went along as one of the chaperons.
The boys reported there appeared to be very little crime. ‘People don’t lock their houses, cars or bikes,? Ziegelbaur said. ‘They know people aren’t going to rob them.?
Ironically, Jeff Ziegelbaur saw tons of graffiti everywhere they went.
‘I was amazed at how much graffiti they had,? he said. ‘Anything you could put something on ? rocks, underpasses, sides of buildings. That was a complete shock to me.?
However, Ziegelbaur noted the country is quite clean when comes to litter, of which he didn’t see any.
In some respects, the Swedish people looked to be very physically fit. ‘I think we saw two overweight people the entire time we were there,? said Jeff Ziegelbaur.
The players and parents attributed this to the noticeable lack of fast food restaurants and large number of people who bicycle.
Despite their healthy appearances, one couldn’t help but notice the large numbers of Swedish smokers standing outside buildings.
A home away from home
Spending three days and nights living with Swedish families gave the Oxford players a chance to get to know the natives one-on-one.
‘They live pretty much the same way we live. It’s not a whole lot different, the life-style over there,? Ziegelbaur said.
‘They all spoke English,? said Goalie Corey Hrischuk, a sophomore at OHS.
The family Forward Will Buday, a sophomore at OHS, stayed with derived their entertainment from old fashioned conversation as opposed to electronic gadgets.
‘They didn’t really watch TV,? he said. ‘They’re not really into video games or anything. They just like to talk and stuff.?
The players admitted at first they were all ‘nervous? about living with strange families, but once they got there everyone made their stay ‘comfortable and easy.?
Jeff Ziegelbaur found it ‘pretty amazing how emotional the families were when they left.?
‘A lot of them were in tears,? he said. ‘They got attached pretty quick.?
Bus trips with the mayor
While in Sandviken, the town’s mayor served as the team’s own personal tour guide.
‘He actually was our bus driver for a couple days,? Hague said. ‘He’s knows absolutely everyone in that town and in neighboring cities. Just a friendly, friendly guy.?
The mayor even opened his home to player Elliot Wicker.
Time for school
Visiting the Tyreso Gymnasium showed the players how different high school is there compared to gravel pit country.
‘They could wear hats. They could have their cell phones out,? Hrischuk said. ‘We get our hats taken away and our cell phones sent down to the office.?
Ziegelbaur said the overall the atmosphere was ‘more relaxed? at the Swedish school.
‘They only have to go to like three classes a day,? Buday said. ‘They get better lunches than we do sometimes.?
Taking in the sights
As for sight-seeing, the players visited the Tyreso Castle and Church (both built in the 17th century); Sweden’s oldest amusement park, the Tivoli Grona Lund, open since 1883; Stockholm Globe Arena (or Globen), site of many professional hockey games; and the Vasa Museum, which houses a 17th-century galleon that sunk on its maiden voyage.
A good learning experience
‘Most of these guys had never been away from home on their own like that,? Hague said. ‘They really learned how to take care of themselves and it forced them to grow up pretty quick.?
There’s talk of making the trip a regular event for the hockey team, if fund-raising efforts are successful. ‘We’ll just have to wait and see,? Hague said. ‘It’s something that the program definitely wants to do again.?