{"id":2100,"date":"2024-03-25T00:04:41","date_gmt":"2024-03-24T22:04:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travel.backeman.se\/?p=2100"},"modified":"2024-03-25T00:04:41","modified_gmt":"2024-03-24T22:04:41","slug":"quarterfinals-in-gothenburg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backeman.se\/index.php\/2024\/03\/25\/quarterfinals-in-gothenburg\/","title":{"rendered":"Quarterfinals in Gothenburg"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

People who know me know that I follow the hockey team called Leksands IF. Since I started following them in 2004 most accomplishments have been advancements from the second league (Hockeyallsvenskan) to the top one, SHL. During the season 2020-2021, they finished in third place during the regular season and went straight to quarterfinals. However, this was during the Covid pandemic so no (or very few) spectators were allowed during the games. In the following seasons, they reached the round of 16 but never advanced. This year (2023-2024), they ended up in fifth place and once again qualified for the quarter-finals, against Fr\u00f6lunda HC from Gothenburg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this was decided I quickly looked at the schedule and realized that LIF would play in Gothenburg both Friday and Sunday, which could turn out to be a nice weekend on the West Coast. I asked my father if he would be interested in joining me and after checking with my mother he said yes. We discussed if would take the train or go by car, but since it’s a playoff game it could go on for quite some time so we didn’t want to risk having to leave before it was over. Hence we chose the car. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A hotel room was booked, tickets bought, and plans made for activities outside of the hockey games, and on the morning of March 22nd I got into my car and left for Uppsala. First I picked up Johan and then my father before heading towards Gothenburg. We stopped outside \u00d6rebro for some lunch and then kept going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We arrived at Gothia Towers at about half past three. Me and Dad checked in while Johan headed downtown to meet up with some friends. While my father took the bags up to the room I went outside again to park the car in the garage. Had to drive around the whole block, through a couple of traffic lights before being able to enter the parking structure. It was quite smooth when I found the entrance with a camera reading the number plate and the gate opening automatically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When I got up to our room I took a shower, before we headed up to the top floor and the restaurant Heaven 23 for some dinner. Dad ordered the famous shrimp sandwich and I went for lamb loin. Took some time for the food to arrive but we enjoyed the view. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We passed by our room to get the jerseys and then left for Scandinavium, the hockey arena which is just around the corner. After a pointless body search and quick ticket check, we tried to take a lap inside the arena. However, the away section was cordoned off so we had to turn back again (we were sitting on the other side). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dad got some coffee and we took our seats in section O. There were a lot of Leksand supporters around the arena and the away section was loud even before the game started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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