She had had hip problems for most of her career and decided to have surgery in March this year. Just a month later, she was told that Djurgården, where she won Swedish Championship gold in 2017, had chosen not to extend her contract.
When 32-year-old Lovisa Berndtsson was chosen as the draft pick, it therefore came as a shock to her.
– The token might fall down when I stand at Arlanda, she said when DN talked to her i september.
Now she’s lived in Buffalo for almost six weeks but she needed time before it actually did.
– My mother and I cried to catch up at Arlanda so it started to come, but it took at least three weeks before I understood that I was going to live here for a while and that it was not a short holiday, she says now.
The operation has enabled her to now play painlessly. However, she was never nervous about that.
Moving to a new country is a change for everyone, then she needed a little help on the run.
– We new ones needed to be phased in with everything from bank cards to social insurance numbers. Then it was nice that our general manager (Nate Oliver) was there to make it easier.
– Then with the social part, it has helped to live with three of my teammates.
My feeling is that I did what I could.
The salary in Buffalo Beauts is better than in Djurgården. This means that Lovisa Berndtsson now only needs to focus on her ice hockey. Previously, she also had a full-time job.
This means that she now has a lot of free time – which has been a real change.
– You go on some sightseeing in Buffalo, go shopping and work out at the gym. I’ve seen Niagara Falls and an NHL game as well.
– Then I have been on “apple picking”, but really I just try to stay busy. At the same time, you have to take care when you have an everyday life like this.
Do you mean to pick apples?
– Yes, apparently it’s something they do here in the US. I do not really understand why but it is just a big farm where you can pick your apples and then you pay for the ones you picked.
– Usually I buy mine in the store, but here you pick on farms yourself, she laughs.
The food is also apparently something Lovisa Berndtsson is struggling with. It is difficult to find healthier alternatives as the range is not as large as in Sweden.
– I try to cook much like I did in Sweden but not everything is there.
– If you want something that also goes fast, the options are usually very expensive or useless.
The team has played two training matches and a league match. Despite Lovisa Berndtsson keeping a clean sheet in one of the training matches, she was benched in the league premiere against Toronto in favor of last year’s first goalkeeper Carly Jackson (the team lost 3-4).
– They feel safe with “CJ” and I have to make sure to take the chance when I get it. It is a double match this weekend so we will see how the coaches choose to match.
– My feeling is that I did what I could to get the premiere. Of course you get a little disappointed when you are not allowed to play.
Now that Lovisa Berndtsson has seen how both the Swedish and American leagues are, she is still impressed by the level of the Swedish league.
– The individual skill is probably better in Sweden but it is so much more intense and faster in the US. The small rink makes it more north / south hockey (a straighter game).
That she misses the family is not particularly surprising but it is a family member she seems to miss the most.
– I have no need. However, I miss my cat terribly.
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