Many ice hockey players have odd things, rituals that persist, that they do during warm-ups.
One of the more notable is Victor Hedmans. The Swede has been playing the "knife game" on Tampa Bay's goalie for several years, putting his hand on the rim and slamming his own stick between his fingers at a high tempo.
– It's more visible, mine might not be, says Mika Zibanejad.
“Many years ago”
What the Swedish World Cup star is referring to is that for several years he has been forming a smile in the booth, during warm-ups, with the help of his water bottle.
– I also saw that clip. I had it sent to me. It was fun. Irma (my wife) didn't know I did it either, says the 32-year-old.
A clip of the performance has been circulated on social media in recent days.
– I started doing it quite a few years ago. I think I did it to our head coach in New York many years ago and it has stuck with me and become a routine. A fun thing.
Did you win that match?
– If I had changed things because we weren't winning games, I probably wouldn't have had any things left. But it could have been that we won, I don't know.
Tre Kronor will meet the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals at Globen on Thursday evening.
After missing the group final against Canada due to illness, Mika Zibanejad is back in the team.
