As we work to prepare for our upcoming annual European winter cup trip this December/January let’s reflect on our memorable journey to Storvretacupen 2023/2024. Our second time at Storvretacupen was very beneficial for our Jr. Florida Vikings players.
A day before the tournament, coach Daniel and Liam organized a one-day camp with Storvreta coaches and their youth players, giving our team a preview of what pace to expect next day in the cup.
Photo: Vikings
After the camp we played a successful friendly match against Storvreta P09 youth team, which we won. This experience was eye-opening for many of our players who had not traveled with us before, giving them a clear picture of the competition ahead. Our mascot, Loki, stole the show, cheering on our players and making connections with the younger opponents. The mutual enjoyment was evident as Storvreta players practiced their English and made new friends.
Simultaneously, there was an SSL game featuring Kalmarsund and another SSL team, including our own pro players, Kevin, Albin, and Linus. Loki's energetic presence at the game drew attention from kids and spectators alike with his dance moves. After the friendly game, our pro team surprised the jr. players by signing autographs, taking pictures, and wishing them luck for the Cup.
“It was so fun to see Vikings join the big tournament in Sweden. They are keeping up the good work in the U.S. and it meant a lot to have the support in the crowd by the Vikings Family and Loki during our game!”
– Kevin Haglund, Kalmarsund IBK and Florida Vikings FC
Photo: Vikings
The partnership with Storvreta was a highlight, with our staff exchanging ideas and establishing future collaborations. Worth noting is that Luke Williamsson played with Stovreta HJ17 for the year and also doubled up with this team in the tournament.
“It was really fun and exciting to have Luke here with us in Storvreta IBK for a season. We hope he can continue his development and play high level floorball in the future. Really fun to see how dedicated the players from the Florida Vikings are and I know the Storvreta players thought it was really fun!” – Mats Karlenius, Storvreta IBK
“That Jr. Florida Vikings were here in Uppsala and participated in Storvretacupen was fantastic. They did a good tournament and the other teams talked a lot about a team from USA that they have played or seen played. I think the whole team learned a lot during the cup and improved under the games and tournament together with the support from Storvreta. Hopefully you will came back and participate more times in the cup. “ – Fredrik Nybäck, Storvreta IBK
Photo: Vikings
Our team settled into their school compound, expertly managed by coach Liam who handled both coaching and logistics.
The first day of the Cup saw high expectations as we played each game with growing cohesion. Our parents were thrilled by the high level of competition and the sheer scale of the tournament, which featured 600 teams.
On the second day, we faced some of the top teams in Sweden. In the first game, we held our own against Västerås, but in the second game, we secured a big win with a score of 11-2.
Our Junior Vikings were there to support their captain, who is spending a year playing with Storvreta HJ17. Their presence inspired some of Luke’s teammates to consider playing in Europe in the future.
"I think Luke’s time here in Storvreta developed him a lot as a player. He had already some great skills with his stick and ball control. Here he developed it in higher speed. He learn how to always be ready so he could save time when he got the ball. He learnt a lot about tactics and how to play different types of system as and game plans. What I think what he developed the most except to play in high speed what’s how to defend against a player who has the ball. It was great to have him in the team and the guys hade a great time and loved to have him as a teammate. " – Fredrik Nybäck, Storvreta IBK
Photo: Adam Troy
Despite having a smaller team and facing some illnesses, we fought hard and made it to the quarter finals. Though we lost narrowly, the experience was invaluable.
Photo: Adam Troy
The games drew a lot of spectators, and the crowd was enthusiastic, cheering “Let’s go Vikings!” Our beloved mascot added to the excitement with his Loki dance moves. He even gained some international fame by dancing with the Ukrainian team which made waves on social media.
Photo: Vikings
This trip prepared our players for national games and paved the way for their future in Viking Pro. Stay tuned for our next adventure—we’re already planning something exciting!
Photo: Vikings
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