This spring, Gabriel Landeskog won his first Stanley Cup with Colorado, where he was drafted in 2011. Being able to bring home the trophy to Stockholm is something he has dreamed of since he left his hometown as a 16-year-old to go to high school and play junior hockey in Canada.
– I feel 25 kilos lighter. That question of whether you would ever win has dropped. Now you know how wonderful, fun, tough and difficult it was, but that it’s also worth it, says the 30-year-old.
Each player on the team gets 24 hours to show off the dent in their hometown, and Landeskog wanted to maximize that 24 hours before he goes with his wife to her hometown of Toronto. The day began at Herrängens school in Älvsjö, where Landeskog grew up.
– There weren’t that many of them there because they have summer holidays, but it was still nostalgic to walk around the school yard with the dent. I have played a lot of bandy and soccer there. But there were some neighbors there who came over and wanted to take pictures.
After that it wore off to the Court. Because Landeskog was brought up in Hammarby hockey and also represented Djurgården, it is a special place. For two hours, the NHL star greeted fans and took pictures with them next to the Stanley Cup trophy.
– It is always wonderful to come home to Stockholm. Everything is so nostalgic because wherever you go, you have memories from there. So it’s fun to come here and close the circle in a way.
From the boys’ team in Hammarby where Landeskog was raised, three more players have become NHL players: Erik Gustafsson, Fredrik Claesson and Patrik Nemeth. All were born in 1992.
– I am still in contact with everyone. It’s a unique story in itself. I went to school with Erik from seventh grade and this weekend I was at his wedding.
After the Court left Landeskog on to Lilla Erstagården, a hospice for children and young people to which Landeskog has a personal connection.
– My nephew was there a few years ago. It is close to my heart, so we want to pay attention to the staff and also the families who are there.
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