The 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship is extra special for Mika Zibanejad.
Not only does he get to represent his country, but Zibanejad also has the opportunity to play in front of his hometown fans, as Stockholm, Sweden serves as the main host for the tournament.
It’s a big reason that Zibanejad is out playing hockey instead of taking the time to get some rest after a long season with the New York Rangers.
Mika Zibanejad Admits What He Went Through This Season Was Toughest Mental Challenge Of Career
New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers" target="_blank">Rangers</a> fans are accustomed to seeing Mika Zibanejad controlling the pace of play and using his hockey IQ to dominate while he’s on the ice.
The atmosphere for Team Sweden’s first game on Friday night against Team Czechia was nothing short of spectacular.
The night started off with a full-fledged performance and concert to give the players an epic introduction, something we just don’t see in the NHL.
It felt almost like a Broadway show, not a hockey game. Nonetheless, here we are.
The stands were filled with yellow jerseys in support of Sweden and from the opening puck dropped, the fans made their presence felt, cheering “We Want Canada”, among other chants.
Team Sweden won the game 5-0 and Zibanejad scored a goal in the third period. However, the storyline was actually the atmosphere as opposed to what transpired on the ice.
After the game, Zibanejad shared a special moment with his child and he described it postgame with a smile on his face, clearly touched by it.
“Obviously it’s special, it’s special to be back home,” Zibanejad said. “Playing for your fans, but also playing in front of your family and friends that don’t get to see you very often. In terms of that, it’s a lot of fun. It gives me a lot of energy for sure.”
Zibanejad and Sweden will face some tough competition going forward at the World Championship, but they'll have the home crowd on their side backing them all the way, that’s one thing for sure.