Vikingstad in First Camp With Blues, Norway Notes

by Evan Andriopoulos
on

Tore Vkingstad who tallied (9G 4-5-9 10PIM)for the National Team of Norway has willingly accepted an offer from St.Louis to attend camp. Vikingstad has impressed the Blues scouts with his uncanny knack to find open ice and the net. Vikingstad a 6th round selection will leave Norway at the end of August and test himself with the Blues in dry-land workouts and on ice training.

Vikingstad`s ultimate goal is to make the parent roster of St.Louis and if he is assiged to their minor league affiliate he plans on returning to Sweden until his time is right to try a run at the NHL again.
In Norwegian Daily VG a translated version of what Vikingstad had went:
TV: I could have taken the contract offer now and been assured a place in the minor league, but I would like to have a shot at the NHL and if not return to play in Sweden. I would like to see how I can play in the exhibitions.-Told to Stavanger`s Aftenblad via VG.
If I am not on the team after I will return and play for Leksand in the Swedish Elite Series leaving Fårjestad.
Also Aker IHK of Oslo will participate in Gjøvik Mountain Hall, the site of some of the 1994 Olympic Ice Hockey Tourney. The roster has been set:

Rune K is only playing on Saturday. He is not staying, 


PLAYER       POS.              1999-00 CLUB HT WT AE
Kent Nyholt (Goalie)           AIHK      6.01 230 27
Evan Andriopoulos (Coach-Def.) AIHK-Inj. 6.02 225 31    Read more»

Thoresen Nets Only Goal For Norway in Junior`s Loss, Nagel Stars in 4-4 Tie.

by Evan Andriopoulos
on
Patrick Thoresen who recently returned from camp in North America scored the lone goal in a 5-1 loss to Finnish Tappara. Thoresen has landed himself in his father`s stal at Storhamar for the season and is considered one of Norway`s brightest prospects. Lars Peder Nagel also played for Norway as they have put together perhaps one of their best National Teams in Years. The Norwegian team arrived right off the bus and were headed to the ice as the game time was changed and this did not suit the team well. 

Line Up:
Defense:	Petter Skolla	Marius Fredriksen
		Ola Johannessen	Svein Magnus Melgaard
		Andrè Høibyhagen Anders Helgesen
                Erik Haugom	Petter Barth Hansen
		
Forwards: Lasse Fredriksen	Lars Peder Nagel 
                    Jonas Andersen
	  Morten Strangstad	Lars Sandvold Moe
                    Knut Henrik Spets
	  Christian Thygesen	Patrick Thoresen
	             Eirik Skadsdammen
	  Bjarte Bjønnes	Karl Johan Sundt
	             Peter Lorentzen

		
Goalie: Mats Johansen

In the other game, Norway rallied from a 4-1 deficit on goals by Lasse Fredriksen (2) and Christian Thygesen to finish with 4-4 tie.

Norway Prospect Lists Updated

by Evan Andriopoulos
on

Patrick Thoresen-Storhamar(Nor.Elite)

Espen Knutsen-Columbus Blue Jackets(NHL), Hartford(NHL DRAFT), Anaheim Mighty Ducks(NHL 1997), Cincinnati (AHL).-Djurgarden Stockholm(Swe. 1998-200)

Anders Myrvold-Quebec (NHL Entry), Colorado(NHL),Boston(NHL), Providence (AHL)-AIK (Swe.1998-)

Tore Vikingstad-St.Louis Blues (1999 NHL Entry Draft), Farjestad (Swe. 1998-)

Trond Magnussen- (Undrafted)(Farjestad-Sweden 1997-)

Lars Peder Nagel-(Undrafted)(MS-Nor. 2000-)

Marius Andersen- (Undrafted) (ECHL,UHL 2000?)

What! Another Year, Not a Norwegian Drafted?

by Evan Andriopoulos
on
With Tore Vikingstad likely to partake in the St.Louis Blues minicamp before returning to his Swedish club, the Norwegian Hockey Community was excited when they heard much rant and rave about Trond Magnussen and his brilliant World Championships but as draft day closed in…his name was not found on any of the ratings boards even as an “overage” player. The smallish Magnussen, a player in Fårjestad of Sweden showed a dominating team oriented performance against the Canadians at the World`s and was being scouted by Nashville, Islanders and others…but was not taken or offered a contract. Per Skroder of Frolunda (Sweden) was joined by Anders Myrvold (AIK) as other possible players of interest to the NHL clubs but none was offered a deal.

The next generation of Norwegian players includes Patrik Thoresen, son of long time Norwegian star Petter, Dan Tanges-Rogle(Sweden) and Anders Fredriksen lead the way. Lars Nagel who had been a bright spot in NEJHL was offered scholarships to atleast one Division One University (Yale) but there is no word on whether he will attend school there or stay home and play in Norway. The future is somewhat brighter with Espen Knutsen`s return to the NHL (Columbus) and the fairings at the 2000 World`s by Team Norway. But again time will tell.

Former Canadian Junior and Montreal Pick Jarl Ygranes who played solid hockey for Frisk(Nor.Elite) has been training like a monster and is headed back to a strong Frisk side led by former NHLer Serge Boisvert.

SUMMER HAPPENINGS:

Read more»

Vikingstad Scores Winner vs Canada

by Evan Andriopoulos
on
St.Louis Blues prospect Tore Vikingstad of Norway scored the game winner midway through the third period on a pass from Trond Magnussen for Norway`s first major victory over Canada in the World Championships 4-3. Goalie Vidar Wold played superb hockey in shutting down the Canadians.

With it’s only remaining game against Japan, it is possible that Norway could capture first place in Group C thus changing face from past World Championships where they were playing to stay in Group A and in recent years in Group B.

Canada opened the first period with four minutes of solid forechecking, forcing the action in the Norwegian zone. Canada almost scored one minute in but was stopped by goalie Vidar Wold.

The game was extremely physical and usually this type of play frustrates the smaller Norwegian side. This time they survived as Canada piled up the penalty minutes. This proved costly in the end result.

Canada’s head coach, Tom Renney, said: “Our lack of discipline got the best of us tonight. We are the youngest team in the tournament and we played like it.”

When the referee wasn’t blowing the whistle, the players on both sides provided scoring chances throughout the match. Norway who scored first at 2:06 of the second, with Sjur Nilsen and Canada’s Ed Jovanovski chasing the puck towards the Canadian goal. Jovanovski bumped Nilsen in front of the net, with a one handed flick he was able to tap the puck past Freddie Braithwaite.
Read more»
HF Boards