The University ice hockey team LTH Griparna have had a difficult start to the season – but the tides seem to have turned. On Sunday the week before last, the team won a historic victory against KTH Hockey in the Swedish University Hockey League.
Lund University ice hockey team, LTH Griparna, have received a historic feather in their cap. The team went to Stockholm and beat the reigning champions from KTH Royal Institute of Technology on away-ice – as the first team ever in the Swedish University Hockey League.
“You have one big smile on your face right now. KTH were cocky before the match and said that they would bring home the championship in that match – but we got to put them in their place. That’s just what they deserve. Everyone was in a great mood on the bus going home,” says Adam Eidenvall, leader and team captain of LTH Griparna.
Photo: Archive/Lukas J. Herbers.
Underway after a slow start
After a slow start to the season for LTH Griparna, with two consecutive losses, the team now seem to be in shape and are climbing the tables. The victory against KTH means that the University Hockey League now is wide open. Apart from KTH, LTH Griparna is up against university teams from Jönköping University and Chalmers.
The winnings is a barrel of whisky from Mackmyra.
“It’s getting more and more exciting. No one thought that we would win an away match against them, but now, the series is thrown wide open,” Adam Eidenvall says and continues:
“Every team have beaten each other, and everybody has a chance of bringing home the barrel of whisky, even if I think it would fit best in Lund.”
Have the most visitors in the municipality
Student sports in Lund does not traditionally attract the biggest audiences. But the home matches of Griparna is something out of the ordinary. The team holds the municipality record in amount of visitors at one ice hockey match: an entire 430 visitors.
“We have a good collaboration with ESN Lund who get exchange students to visit our matches. After the matches, we have skate parties that are rather like events. People go there to watch hockey, skate and drink beer. The atmosphere is great,” Adam Eidenvall says and mentions the team’s cheering section, “Förgriparna”:
“They contribute to the entire atmosphere in the stands. There is no better cheering section to play for,” he laughs.
Little Help from the Municipality
But despite the big interest, there is little help for the team from the municipality. The team have received time on the ice once a week to prepare.
“We have a standing crap time each week, given us by the municipality: on Thursdays at 10.15 PM. After that, it’s quite difficult to get up in time for lectures at 8 the following morning. Thursday is also a good day to be out on the town,” Adam Eidenvall says and continues:
“We hold the record in amount of visitors and do a lot for ice hockey in the municipality, but the municipality are very one-sided with their schedules.
Now, it’s time for the team to recharge. On the 28 of March, HJ Hockey from Jönköping is visiting Lund’s ice skating rink; an important match for LTH Griparna and their continued chances of winning the championship. At the moment, the team is behind the second team, KTH, but with one less match played.
“All we need now is to beat them as well, then we’re up and running,” Adam Eidenvall says.
The match will be played on the 28 of March at 6.30 PM, and the event to the match can be found here.
Text: Casper Danielsson
Translation: Carl-William Ersgård
