The Championships spirit.

The spirit amongst us fans was really good, you can even say it was fantastic! It really felt like the TRUE fans were there, the hardcore ones, the ones that are serious about supporting the team. It was many years ago that we felt such a genuine joy and happiness and comradeship amongst the fans like we did in Canada. The spirit amongst us was really on top during the event in Ville de Quebec in 2008.

Organisation

The Championships was extremely well organized this year. But on the other hand, had it not been just this then it had been a really big scandal since we actually were in Canada.
The arena was great and inside it was crowded with bars and pubs so there were never far away from drinks. Also the beer-hall was situated just a short distance from the arena so that one did not have to walk so far before or after a game.
In the beer-hall it had been good though if they had installed a more effective air condition because it was hotter than hell in there from time to another.

Guards/Staff

The staff inside and outside the arena behaved like true professionals and there was always a smile for supporters no matter what. The tickets were checked in half a second and there were not any “pervert” security checks and shit that are created for the sole purpose to create irritation at the arena.

Souvenirs

The company behind the most ugly and expensive souvenirs during the World Championships in ice hockey, the Swiss company The Merchandisers had obviously not bribed the right people this year. The patches were exactly the way the patches shall look. The year, the logo and the country were on it and nothing more. Just as the fans wants it. This year however there were no other scarves for any other country than Canada which kind of sucks. Also there were a great number of places inside the arena to buy souvenirs.

 

 

The most imprtant souvenirs, according to us, that must be for sale during the Championships.
The only scarf available this year was for Team Canada and unfortunately we never got hold of this one. But from what we could see it was of really good quality and can be used as a real scarf, compared to the crappy shit that  “The Merchandisers” from Switzerland is selling at the Championships year after year.	Watch and learn, yes we are talking to you people at The Merchandisers. This is how it shall look when making a patch for the World Championships. It is not hard if you just put some efforts into it.

 

The weather.

The weather was ok during the Championships. Maybe it was a little cold out at Bates motel the evenings that we were there drinking but otherwise absolutely ok. And most of the time we were indoors anyway drinking and not like in 1998 and 2001 when we were drinking outdoors.

The World Championships...

...Fastest
Gabbe was the fastest during the World Championships in 2008. Without doubt he was the fastest.

...Coolest politician
Was Plattan. We remember when we got back to Bate Motel one evening when he was sitting outside and shouted at us “Hello guys! I am eating cheese here that I bought today and now the alcohol is really kicking in! I have swept an entire bottle of Red wine.”
If all politicians were as cool and laid back as Plattan then Sweden would be such a funnier country to live in.

...Most confused
According to one member in the Swedish World Championships Club (SVMK) the word was “Ok, when seeing Nilses, Gabbe and Frogboy together it is like socializing with some multi handicapped people with Downs and it is hard to understand that they even find the right way with the paper when they are wiping their asses.
But Gabbe and the guys feel this is not fair since “We thing we were in quite good control this year”.

 

...Most strange decision
Gabbe was given the opportunity to trade his sweaty blue supporter jersey with Daniel Alfredssons brother and then get the very jersey that Alfredsson wore during the Gold game against finland in Torino but said no with the words “I think you will regret it tomorrow but if you contact me tomorrow and still want to trade then you have a deal.”
Either Gabbe is very honest or very stupid, you are the judge of that.

 

...Greatest surprise The greatest surprise was the finnish supporters (?!) It was amazing but the finns were really great this year and when the finns came to Quebec it all became so much more funny and great and we all seemed to get a little drunker as well when they arrived from Halifax. During the years that we have attended the World Championships we have never met so many social and funny fans since 1994 in Canazei. We just hope that this will continue and that the finnish supporters can start to behave this good and be like fans from other countries. The World Championships in Quebec was a fun and pleasant experience together with the finns.

...Vorst geeks
Were Gabbe and Nilses that used to sit by their laptops out at Bats motel and also even at the airport in Quebec they were chatting, with each other! What is this?

 

...Rookie
Was Frogboy that did not listen to Gabbe and Nilses when they were trying to warn him of the Czech PET-bottle and not to cheer for Canada in the final. The others tried to make clear from him that “It is funnier to cheer for teams that wins than for teams that looses” but he was not interested in listening to this. So therefore he had to walk out from the final being disappointed. Maybe he will learn for next year.

 

Thanks to all of you that have helped with pictures and material to this report. You are listed on our Thanks page.