Hockey Legend Alfredsson ends his career in Ottawa
Hockey = Alfredsson.
In Sweden and many parts of the world, the biggest Swede is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but after once visiting Ottawa, Canada in 2012, before and after that trip, Alfredsson is the bigger name. At some point it bordered God status, like at the local SecondCup coffee shop close to the hotel. After reading the Sports pages you understand a bit more how important Alfredsson was for Ottawa Senators. When I stood in the coffee-room to grab a coffee, it was the talk of Hockey that ruled, not football (Soccer).
Reading today an interview in Sweden with Ottawa Suns Bruce Garrioch, he says it´s difficult to explain how big Alfredson is in Ottawa. ”He is a Legend in this town. He was the soul and heart of the team”.
Equally, I feel, like Bruce Garrioch in the article, and a Canadian I talk to yesterday via email, all agreed it was not beautiful how he left Senators last season to play for Detroit. Poetically it would´ve been more great if he had stayed, or ended last year. 17 years with Ottawa Senators says something, and he was leathal and instrumental to the last game. Basically.
And 2012 Nov/Dec the NHL was on a strike. They watched reruns of past games on TV at the Hotel I stayed at in Ottawa.
Read Swedish interview with Ottawa Suns Bruce Garrioch http://www.svt.se/sport/ishockey/utan-tvekan-den-storsta-i-klubbens-historia
Quote:
”Alfredsson has a career record of 444 goals and 713 assists for a total of 1,157 points in 1,246 NHL games. He was a sixth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in 1994 and was as popular in the community for his off-ice work as a supporter of charities, especially connected to mental health issues.
Alfredsson tweeted Thursday afternoon: “Coming to Ottawa with the family Dec. 4. Looking forward to seeing everyone.”
End Quote
He is a big star in Sweden as well.
Thank you for the games and all you´ve ment for Swedish & Senators/NHL Hockey!
Tack!
Stefan Lindblad
Illustrator & artist
