Skip to main content

The Swedish team had the weekend off in its preparations for the world junior hockey tournament, although it was not a break the Swedes planned or wanted.

When they arrived in Toronto on a flight from Sweden, it was discovered the airline managed to misplace a good part of the team's luggage. The equipment bags for 10 of the 22 players on the team were missing.

Thus the team, which is based in St. Catharines, Ont., until the tournament starts Dec. 26 in Buffalo, was unable to practice on Saturday or Sunday.

However, thanks to efforts by Hockey Canada, Bauer Hockey Corp., and a St. Catharines sporting goods store, the Swedes were able to practice on Monday. The three organizations combined to outfit the 10 players with new equipment. Their regular gear is expected to arrive in Toronto on Tuesday, in time for the Swedes' exhibition game Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre against the Canadians.

There were reports Norway and Germany also arrived for the tournament missing some equipment. But Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada's senior director, hockey operations, said he could not confirm that because both teams are staying on the U.S. side of the border.

Interact with The Globe