Trip Update: Dartmouth Earns Come-From-Behind Win

Photo by Heather Croze

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Day seven began with clouds and rain as the Dartmouth men's hockey team experienced its first day with bad weather. Everyone was glad hockey is an indoor sport, at least for today.

The only thing on tap for the Big Green was a game against Sodertalje, a 45-minute drive away. After a hearty breakfast and a walk to the rink to load up the equipment the group hit the road.

Passing through the outer fringes of Stockholm and through the coutryside, the rink suddenly loomed along side a huge soccer stadium. The AXA Sports Center is equivalent to many of the AHL rinks in the U.S. With it being a Wednesday afternoon game there weren't very many fans in the 5,000+ arena.

Sodertalje is one of AIK's under-20 teams that is allowed to have just three players over 20-years of age. Currently they sit fourth in their league and should they stay at least fourth, they would have an opportunity to finish the second half of the season playing against the top-four teams in the Northern Division.

The first period was very sloppy on both sides as neither team was able to generate much offense. Dartmouth's line of Josh Gillam, Joe Gaudet and Scott Fleming had an opportunity to get the visitors on the board with a give-and-go. Gillam passed in front to Gaudet but Fleming just couldn't get his stick down in time to receive Gaudet's pass.

Troy Mattila also tried to connect but was stopped short. Kyle Reeds and Rob Pritchard had shorthanded opportunities but the teams went into the break scoreless. The Big Green held the advantage in shots 12-7.

It was the home team that struck first in the second period as Sebastian Nyquist snuck one past Dartmouth netminder, James Mello. Just a few minutes later it was suddenly a tie game as Reeds and Mattila connected for the tying goal. Reeds skated down and pulled goalie Pascal Larsson to the right, passing to Mattila in front as the freshman gently put it in the empty side of the net.

A power play goal midway through the frame put the home team ahead, 2-1. The Big Green had its first power play opportunity with 1:44 left as Evan Stephens was able to get several shots off before time wound down. Dartmouth again led in shots at the end of period, 25-12.

With 14:30 left in the game Fredrik Andersson put Sodertalje up, 3-1 with a shot on Mello's glove side as Dartmouth found itself in a hole.

Jonathan Wolter put two straight shots on net but couldn't find a way past Larsson. Late in the game however, Wolter was able to connect with Doug Jones on a power play strike that had the Big Green down by just a goal.

With 4:16 left in the third, Stephens won the battle for the puck along the boards, passing across to Connor Shields who was waiting to the right side of the cage. Rob Pritchard and Shields had been trying to connect all game and finally the two did, with the game-tying strike as Pritchard slammed a Shields pass into the back of the net.

Connor Goggin almost gave Dartmouth the win with less than a minute to go but his shot skimmed the top of the cross bar before flying out. The Big Green finished the period leading in shots, 25-9.

The overtime was decided to be played with international rules, meaning it would be a five minute, 4-on-4 contest. Stephens, Jones, Andrew Owsiak and Wolter were the four chosen to be on the ice first for Dartmouth. Less than two minutes into the overtime, Jones won the faceoff and passed to Owsiak in front as the sophomore jammed home the game winner.

Despite this being a "friendly" game it was a great relief to walk out of the beautiful AXA Sports Center with a victory. After two games played, I've had some observations about the game of hockey I've seen here. First, there are advertisements everywhere and some of them have been very strategically placed. From the backs of the legs of the Sodertalje players to the netting behind the goals with AXA stitched into it. They've even got ads on the inside of the doors to the penalty boxes and the bench.

Second, the announcer says everything that goes on. From icing, to off-sides, to full strength, etc.Third, and maybe the most important, I was able to hum along with most of the songs played today because I think they spun every Abba cd that has ever been released. Abba is to Sweden what Bruce Springsteen is to New Jersey.

Tomorrow will be a slightly earlier day than usual as a 9:30 departure for the The Vasa Museum is scheduled. The Vasa is a maritime museum that is located on the island of Djurgarden. The museum displays the only almost fully intact 17th century battleship that was salvaged after she sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. The 64-gun warship is on display along with several other exhibits.

After the museum it will be back to the hotel to prepare for the third game of the journey against Djurgardens at Hovet Arena.