It鈥檚 not everyday a national junior hockey team stops in at a local business.
But that was the reality for 麻豆精选鈥檚 Axe Monkeys earlier this week when the Swedish junior hockey team put to rest their puck shooting skills, and tested their axe throwing abilities.
Axe Monkeys鈥� manager Matt Bibby was glad to host the young hockey team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 huge for us to host this calibre of a team, we鈥檙e elated and humble that they chose to come throw with us. It also shows that we can handle the big and loud groups,鈥� said Bibby. 鈥淎xe throwing is a bit on the wild side, its fun to do exactly what our parents told us not to do growing up, and it鈥檚 entertaining (for the team).鈥�
Team Sweden was enjoying a couple extra days in 麻豆精选 after a preliminary World Juniors match up with Team Russia on Dec. 18. Team Sweden and Team Russia took to Prospera Place to showcase a friendly and fun game for 麻豆精选鈥檚 hockey fans, who showed up in droves, for a nearly sold out game.
While the Rockets are on holiday breaks, Team Sweden handed Team Russia a 4-2 loss at Prospera Place to help 麻豆精选 hockey fans bide time until the Rockets return.
鈥�(麻豆精选) is awesome and we couldn鈥檛 ask for a better set up while we stay here for a couple more days,鈥� said Sweden head coach Tomas Mont茅n after the victory against Team Russia.
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Team Sweden was lucky in their schedule to have a couple days off in between their next game in Chilliwack on Dec. 22. Team manager Jonas Fransson wanted to do something a little different for team bonding while in 麻豆精选.
鈥淭he boys love to compete, and if they win that鈥檚 good, and if they lose, that will fire them up heading into the tournament,鈥� said Fransson. 鈥淚ts a different type of team bonding, but we have a young group that hasn鈥檛 played much together and we wanted to have some fun in our time (in 麻豆精选). We鈥檙e looking forward to the tournament in Vancouver because we have nothing to lose, and we鈥檙e excited.鈥�
For Axe Monkeys, the three-year-old local business aims to establish itself in a city that offers a wide array of fun activities. Hosting a hockey team with potential NHL players seems as good a place as any to start.
鈥淭hat first thunk into the wood just makes you want it more and more,鈥� Bibby said earlier in the month. 鈥淭his (team visiting) is just proof that we鈥檙e the place to be for entertainment.鈥�
Team Sweden will play Team Denmark on Dec. 22, before the tournaments start on Dec. 26 where it will be Team Sweden against Team Finland to mark the first day of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
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