Stefan Hedlund has been with team USA since the WFC Qualifications in 2010. As the only non-European team, he is looking forward to playing against the Goliaths of floorball at The World Games.
Photo by Adam Troy from an article regarding team USA and The World Games. Read it here: www.usafloorball.org/stefan-hedlund-it-means-a-lot-more-than-people-understand/
Stefan Hedlund
Age: 40
Country of birth: Sweden
Team: USA M
What does The World Games mean to you?
As a floorball enthusiast, I see this as a great opportunity for our sport to gain growth more rapidly in all countries except the big four. It give us as a young sport more experience and opportunity to develop our product towards the goal to be an Olympic games sport in the future.
How does it feel to be one of the first floorball teams in the tournament and the only team outside of Europe?
As the best non-European team, it feels as a reward for our hard work to develop the federation, clubs and players in USA. At the same time, it’s an honor to be part of one of the biggest sport happenings you can attend. Last of all we are thrilled, scared and happy to face Sweden and Switzerland – two nations we never faced before. Never mind the result – it will give us experience among our organization, coaches and players that is so valuable to us.
What do you think The World Games can do to floorball?
We will take giant leaps in our development thanks to this tournament. And we really hope this sets the agenda for an even better and stronger team USA in the next The World Games in Birmingham, USA.
How will you prepare for The World Games?
We have a camp in Sweden in July to prepare the last details.
You have WFC medallists Sweden and Switzerland in your group, what are your thoughts about that and how will you battle against them?
We love the challenge to play against two of the floorball giants in the group stage. For us it will be a great chance to gain experience. Every shot, every blocked shot, every tackle, every goal, every sprint gives us a possibility to compare ourselves with the best players in the world. it will make our minds grow, it will take us closer to those nations faster than if we never got the chance to face the Goliaths of floorball.
The World Games will be played in Wroclaw, Poland 20th-30th of July. The Floorball competition will be held over 4 days, from 27th – 30th July, and will involve 6 men´s teams divided into two groups of 3. Group A consists of Finland, Czech Republic and Poland and Group B consists of Sweden, Switzerland and USA.
More information about The World Games can be found here: www.floorball.org/pages/EN/The-World-Games-2017
