10/25/2024
A 45-year friendship deserves something special on the ice! 🏒🥅 We were honored to customize jerseys for this unforgettable reunion game between our client Bob and his former high school teammate, Mathias.
Here’s Bob’s story:
“Mathias and I played hockey in my senior year at Upper Dublin HS (PA), We also played on a floor hockey during the same year. We became very good friends and the friendship grew even as he went back to Sweden after finishing the year out.
When I got married in 1986 I asked him to be one of my groomsmen for the wedding. The only other time I saw him after that was in 1990 when he and his girlfriend visited to see my new family.
Life went on. Many letters and pictures of our families, then email, etc. Around 2011, I got the crazy idea of playing hockey again. It had "only" been 31 years, so I figured why not? I figured I'd last a couple of seasons at most before my body would give out. Well...it didnt.
I kept Matias updated with my resurrected career as I continued to excel AND stay healthy. He told me that he stopped playing hockey around 1997.
In my 13 years, I have won numerous championships, a gold medal in the NC state games, a few GAA leaders at end of season and probably the best: skating with Mario Lemieux at his Fantasy Camp in 2020.
However, the only thing missing was the opportunity to skate with my best friend one more time.
Last year he toyed with the idea of returning to the states for a week vacation. It was at that moment I thought if I could hang on physically, I might be able to convince him to lace em again. He agreed and last Sunday 10-1-24 the final check mark off the hockey bucket list was complete.
He played defense just as he did in HS 45 years ago. A little rusty for sure but handled the puck okay and even earned an assist. His first (and last) in the states since Feb. 23, 1980 - I looked it up!
While we came out short on the win, this day will resonate with me forever. To even be able to skate and play the game at 62 years old is a blessing but to have your friend and former high school teammate reunite for one game is incredible.
Thank you for rushing the jersey out and it was a big surprise to him. He said it will be framed and hung on his office wall at work. He is a detective in the Karlstad police department.”
