F1 Dad

I’ve been a Formula 1 fan as a kid and teenager. Then something happened. I guess life happened and me and F1 drifted apart. I don’t I know what happened. Honestly I think that F1 started to be broadcasted at channels my family didn’t have. That might have been around 2000.

Since then me and formula 1 have been on different paths. Then my life was turned up side down when my son A arrived. That changed my life in just so many ways but one thing where that I started to be awake at night and other strange times during the day while A was sleeping on me. During those hours I needed something to keep my awake and entertained.

That’s when I found Drive to Survive on Netflix. I watched the first two seasons together with A and also started to follow the current season. Since then I’ve not only seen all the Drive to Survive episodes I also started to follow F1 again and love it. However, I don’t love how the last season ended.

In fact I like formula 1 so much that a tough of actually going on a trip to watch a race live starting to occupy my brain. We will see if it will happen within a foreseeable future. Anyway it’s good to be back and I’ve having a lot of fun discussions with my cousin D and Dad about it. Just that makes it fun.

Schedule for the first part of the 2022 season

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Oslo Cross Country Skiing

Oslo is an truly amazing winter city and cross country skiing is huge here! Yesterday where cross country skiing day for me and the wife and if you like cross country skiing this is not a bad place during winter time. Read somewhere that Oslo have about 3200km of tracks for cross country skiing. I might not be that surprising that they are one of the number one countries in the world in this sport.

Yesterday me and G went cross country skiing. We stayed in the district of Majorstuen and took the subway to Frognerseter with our skis. The we skies from there to a place called Tryvann which also have a downhill skiing facility and continued right by it down to the cottage in Ullevålseter. In Ullevålseter we took a break and had a Norwegian waffle and hot coco that we bought in the cafe that’s run by the sports club Lyn which is a pretty successful cross country skiing club. It all can be seen while eating there. The beams and walls are full of big trophies and prizes.

After that we continues down to Sognsvann where we took the subway back. So a almost 12 km trip in perfect conditions if you live cross country skiing this is a great route even if it’s a bit crowded from time to time.

Highly recommended. Even if I know this might not be the number one activity on your list of what to do in Oslo but it’s a great place for it. Just saying.

The Olympic Games 2018

You might have understood already but I love watching The  Winter Olympics. As a man born in Scandinavia I think this is born into our DNA. If you beside that grew up in Sweden playing ice hockey it’s a sure thing. So, I’m suer excited and I will be watching quite some Olympics within the next couple of weeks. So I just couldn’t write about it. Here I just had to share some thoughts.

There are a few things that is more important than other. First of all the ice hockey tournament. I’m a big fan and for me who loves hockey its the greatest hockey tournament of them all. However, this year is the first time in many years that the NHL stars won’t be allowed to join there teams. Its a bit sad but despite this I think this fact will play to Team Sweden’s advantage. Because we got so many players that have been on the edge to play in the NHL but have chosen to play in Europe instead. Both the KHL (The Russian League and the second best league in the world) and that plays in the SHL (The Swedish Hockey League, the third best league in the world). This makes Team Sweden in my eyes the second best team in the tournament on paper after OAR (Team Russia, that isn’t allowed to plays as Russia). But the Russians often has problems to play as a team and that might work to Team Sweden’s advantage. Of course Finland, Czech Republic and Swiss will be dangerous contenders as well but I really think we got a good chance here. Super exited about this one.

Second focus is the cross country skiing and after living in Norway for many years this is important and very closely connected to bragging rights and survival while being in Norway. The most importation thing here to beat the Norwegians for the Swedes and for me (and for the Norwegians the most important to beat the Swedes. Neighbor rivalry).  But the first day of the Olympics Charlotte Kalla won a gold medal and that was a great start!

Then there is some many cool and fun events to watch besides these two but this will be a great couple of weeks. Lets go Sweden!

 

 

World championships in hockey 2017

Today is the start of the epic tournament and an event filled with tradition in my life. World Championships in Hocky. It’s a certain sign of spring and me and one of my best friends Alexander used to watch it together but nowadays we follow it together but in not in the same place. We live since a couple of years back in different places and for the last 3 years we even live in different countries. He in Sweden and me in Norway. But have no doubt it will always be Team Sweden that’s my team.

Unfortunately this is about if a challenge at home because my girlfriend G has no interest at all in hockey but I’m working at it. So far without any success so all tips are welcome?

So first game this afternoon I watched parts of the game between Sweden and Latvia. Hope to watch some more hockey tomorrow. But nice weather in Oslo this weekend will affect this.

World Cup 2016 Team Sweden, part 1

At Wednesday March 2 2016 the first 16 players where presented in New York, USA. I’m so looking forward to the World Cup tournament as a big hockey fan and specially these kind of tournaments.

Here are the 16 first players of Team Sweden or “Tre Kronor” as we say in Sweden. If you click in the players you get more information about them.

Goalkeepers
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Jacob Markström, Vancouver Canucks

My comments of the selected goalies are not that much. Henrik Lundqvist will be the most important player of Team Sweden and will most likely play all the games if not he gets hurt which I don’t hope. However, Jacob Markström is a good goalie and have proven himself earlier when he played for Team Sweden but he is a bit of a surprise in this team. I had probably expected Eddie Läck if I’m totally honest. I think there will be a third goalie in this team that will be announced later and I think Eddie Läck, Anders Nilsson or Jonas Enroth is oin a good position to take that spot.

Defencemen
Oliver Ekman Larsson, Arizona Coyotes
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Niklas Hjalmarsson, Chicago Blackhawks
Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
Niklas Kronwall, Detroit Red Wings
Anton Strålman, Tampa Bay Lightning

My comments on the selected defenders are not that many. Sweden have produced wo many world class defenders the last couple of years and also many different kinds of them. I am a bit surprised that not John Klingberg is on the team but I also can see why at this point in his carrier. I think he is the Swedish defender that’s not selected yet that has the best possibilities to be a part of this team later on. To read the defenders that will play for Team Sweden is just amazing. Not many teams can compete with so many good defencemen (maybe Canada).

Forwards
Nicklas Bäckström, Washington Capitals
Loui Eriksson, Boston Bruins
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Alexander Steen, St. Louis Blues
Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings

My comments on the selected Swedish forwards is probably as expected that we can see that many of them are a bit older and have proven themselves. But we can also see that there many names that are among the best in the NHL. In this setting I think they can create magic. The player I’m most excited to see plays is without no doubt Filip Forsberg. Then I am a big fan of Loui Eriksson who really have been loyal to Team Sweden for many years and might be one of the most underestimated Swedish forwards in my opinion.

Looking forward to see who else will become a part of this team.

 

NHL: Rangers vs Flyers

My girlfriend was away on work related award show and I was home so I took the opportunity to watch the first full NHL of 2016 for me. And it was on a good time even for us NHL fans that love sun Europe. The game I chose to see was the New York Rangers vs Philadelphia Flyers. A game where there was real rivalry and it show in the game. The big talker wa about Flyers Simmons getting a game penalty for misconduct and what Simmons did wasn’t according to the rule book but what McDonald did to Simmons wasn’t either according to the rule book if I’m honest. However this nicely said stirded up some feelings and after a while we got a fight and at that point it felt like the referees lost the control of the game and I think fans of both teams felt that way. 

Flyers took the lead in the first period but Rangers tied it early in the second. But now for long before Flyers where back in the lead. In the third Ramgers did all they could in order to catch up and it didn’t seam like they where going to succeed but in the lag seconds of the third period Rangers pulled their goalie Henrik Lundqvist and with 12 seconds left they got tied. After that tree was overtime and I once again became convinced about that the 3 on 3 over time format is genius and among the most entertaining forms of hockey I’ve seen. The intensity and skilled and opportunities makes it just fantastic. I love it. But in this game no team had won after the over time so it became a shootout and Lundqust stopped all shoots and Zuccarello made a Peter Forsberg move and where a part of the winning trio that made Rangers win this game. Rangers really stole this game from the Flyers and I really liked watching it but I had hoped more out of the Rangers to be honest.

Either way a great Sunday evening!

NHL: The New Overtime

This season the NHL introduced 3 on 3 and I know I’m a bit late to the subject but found this youtube video and was just impressed by the entertainment value of this part of the game. I think it shows the potential of this part of the game and how entertaining it really is. It’s a show people and I like it.

I wish the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) will pick this thing up because I think it would add something to the league. Just check this video out.

SHL: Frölunda

The team from the second largest city in Sweden, Gothenburg. Gothenburg is a harbor town on the Swedish west coast. In fact a recent poll has shown that Frölunda is the most popular hockey club team in Sweden.

Frölunda that looks stronger than they done in many years. Last couple of years the club has improved but had difficulties in the playoffs. But this year I think they got the chance to win the championship and go all the way. And right now they leading the leauge.

The team have also a history of producing good NHL players. The former captain of the Ottawa Senators Daniel Alfredsson comes from Frölunda. But as that’s not enough where successor as captain of the Ottawa Senators Erik Karlsson is also from this team. And the up and coming defenseman John Klingberg from the Dallas Stars who challenger Karlsson for the Norris Trophy this years is also a form this team. And of course “The King of New York” Henrik Lundqvist in the New York Rangers comes from Frölunda and his twin brother is in fact the captain of the team.

  

NHL: Swedish Norris Trophy Candidates

When this season started I had went through what Swedish Defenders that might be able to be contenders for this years Norris Trophy.

1. Erik Karlsson

The two time winner of the Norris Trophy and the captain of the Ottawa Senators. Karlsson makes so many points that he get in among the players with most points in the NHL overall. Quick and offensive qualities that often gives Ottawa an extra edge. I think he will be a contender this year and I’ve though so all season long.

2. Victor Hedman

Rather similar qualities as Karlsson and can when he’s in the right shape also produce points but he’s also good in the defensive game. In the Stanley Cup final and the playoff he was one of the best players in Tampa Bay Lightning. Unfortunately he haven’t started the seasons as good as we all hoped and he doesn’t play first power play right now either. If he get more even on the high level of hockey he has with he can become a contender but I think it will be though this year. But he still have many good years in front of him to compete for that title.

3. John Klingberg

I know he’s goo I’ve seen him in the SHL before he came to NHL and both he and Karlsson comes from the same Swedish SHL club Frölunda. Similar to Karlsson with big offensive qualities. So far he have really delivered and for a while he had the most points of all players in the entire NHL. Even more than all forwards. And he have made more points than Erik Karlsson himself. Thir guy I though would be a dark horse for the Norris Trophy I would see as a clear contender this year.

4. Oliver Ekman Larsson

A good defender but he plays of Arizona which not exactly is the best team in the NHL but this season they have got a better team and seams to slowly be moving forward and then Ekman Larsson might get a better shoot on the Norris Trophy.

There are also other great Swedish defenders such as Hampus Lindholm but I think I playa a to defensive style to win right now. There is also several Swedish defensmen who now I reaching a higher age and because of that not will be able to fight for this trophy but still are great defensmen.

Swedish Hockey Leauge has started

So finally the hockey season have started at least here in Sweden. For the NHL I will have to wait some more before but I will manage. However, the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) is for you who don’t know the third best league in the world after the NHL and KHL. Its also a league that produces a lot of players to the both there other leagues and especially the NHL.

I haven’t got the opportunity to watch any game so far because I live in Norway its make it a bit more difficult to watch but I solve it from time to time anyway.

So far both Färjestad and Frölunda are the only two teams that won both their games so far. But from what I predict for this season these two teams should be two of the contenders for the title this year. Even if you really can’t make any predictions from the results so far. However my predictions for these two teams are more built on what players they have on the roster this year.

Are you interested in SHL and like it or want to know more, please leave a comment below.