Since arriving in Cody, Wyoming, SHC-client Andreas Olofsson has done great to help his Yellowstone Quake. Andreas averages around a point per game, and is very popular among his teammates.
Olofsson has been great for Yellowstone Quake so far
The Newspaper Cody Enterprise interviewed Andreas, and spoke to him about differences between Sweden and USA.
From Cody Enterprise, Wednesday November 24th:
“Swedish player adjusts to Cody
By SCOTT SALISBURY Quake forward Andreas Olofsson moved from Sweden to Cody to play hockey this season.
*
Posted: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 11:36 am
By RICHARD REEDER | 0 comments
For one Yellowstone Quake player, this season is an experience unlike any his teammates may have had.
Andreas Olofsson, a forward for the Quake, left his native Sweden for the chance to play in Cody.
But he didn’t know where he was going to play this season.
“I have an agent in Sweden, and he arranged for me to play here,” Olofsson said. “All he told me was I was going to Cody, Wyoming, to play.
“I didn’t even get to visit before I came to join the team,” he added. “I’ve just showed up and played.”
And so far Olofsson said he likes being in Cody.
He’s adjusting to living in a strange place with a family he didn’t know before arriving in August.
“It’s pretty good here. It’s a nice small town with really nice people,” he said. “It’s beautiful here, and I like seeing the animals.
“This is my first time to ever be outside of Sweden,” he added.
Olofsson started playing hockey when he was 7 years old in his native Visby, Sweden.
He said there are differences in the game played in the U.S. and Sweden.
“The game here is more physical, there is much more hitting,” he said. “In Sweden it’s more of a finesse game without too much hitting.
“There are more shots in goal in the Swedish game,” he added. “But I like the game over here more. It’s more fun.”
Olofsson said in Sweden and Europe, the rinks are larger which makes for a faster game.
He added, it took him 3-4 weeks to get used to the smaller rinks and slower pace.
The Quake are 8-11 in the Nor Pac standings and tied for fourth place in the America West standings.
He said despite the rough start the team has gone through, it has remained a tight group.
“We’re having a hard time right now, but I like the team,” he said. “We’re like a big family, and everyone gets along good.”
Olofsson is 19 and would have one more year in the Nor Pac before he ages out.
But he’s unsure of his future beyond this season.
“I’m not sure what I will do, but I might come back and play again next year,” he said.
Coach Craig Furstenau said Olofsson showed up in great physical shape and was in great condition and has been adjusting to life in Cody.
“He’s come in and fit socially, and he’s a friendly kid,” Furstenau said. “He’s a touch shy outside the rink, but he’s a great fit with his teammates.
“He has a great work ethic and is disciplined about his skating and the game,” he added. “He’s polite and well mannered and has been great to work with and coach.”
Furstenau said Olofsson has had to adjust to the smaller rinks and slower pace of the U.S. game.
“He’s done all right but has had to figure out with the smaller surface it’s harder to break away like he did back home,” Furstenau said. “He’s finding out things he did to create shots don’t work the same way in the smaller spaces.”
The original article can be read here.
—-
Are you a young talented hockey player? Do you want to live your dream of playing hockey in North America? If so, we can help you – no matter what level of hockey you play right now. Please contact us, to take the first step to achieving your dream.
