Going to the Olympics is an achievement. Winning a medal is an achievement. To forget that we won this medal is astonishing.
However, this is what happened to Mats Naslund who had forgotten that he had won the bronze medal with Sweden during the Lake Placid Games in 1980. And this medal is for sale in an online auction which is ending Tuesday evening.
It is part of a lot of seven items that belonged to N aslund along with several jerseys, including a Canadiens jersey and another from his only season with the Boston Bruins, in 1994-1995.
“It's not that hard for me to get rid of these items,” Naslund said in a telephone discussion Monday. I kept valuable items, these sweaters were in the wardrobe. I am especially attached to my Stanley Cup ring.
Courtesy Classic Auctions
Forgotten
The fact remains that Naslund had forgotten that he had this bronze medal in his possession.
“It was me who reminded him that he had participated in these Games and that he should have a medal,” laughs Marc Juteau of Classic Auctions who obtained the mandate to sell the items.
“It’s the piece that appeals to me the most, without a doubt. It’s, obviously, a super important item, it’s the year of the Miracle on Ice,” he recalls about the medal, the bid for which was $4,028 at the time of writing these lines. .
“I won the gold medal later and I had forgotten about it, but it was harder to part with than the jerseys.”
Naslund actually won gold with Sweden at the Lillehammer Games. Yes, it was the year of Peter Forsberg's famous feint on Corey Hirsch which allowed Sweden to beat Canada in a shootout in the final.
In memory
If Naslund chose to clean out his collection of souvenirs, it is because he is not necessarily very attached to material goods.
“I know what I've accomplished, I'm not so attached to the material. I don't need that to remember what I've achieved.
Among the items, there is a Canadian jersey which dates from the 1986-1987 season, that is to say the one after the conquest of the Stanley Cup. It's interesting because it has the “C” for captain on it, a position Naslund didn't hold for long. The man nicknamed the Little Viking now wants his memories to be in good hands.
“I hope the people who buy the items will be Canadiens fans, it’s a nice souvenir.”
Caufield will be good
Even though he lives in Sweden, Naslund continues to follow the Canadian, watching the scores every morning. He was also in Montreal at the beginning of November and took the opportunity to attend games at the Bell Center.
“I obviously noticed Cole Caufield who will be very good and Mike Matheson who I really enjoyed watching skate.”
Even though they are the same size, Naslund sees few parallels between him and Caufield.
“He’s more of a scorer and I was a playmaker, apart from the physicality, we are different. Every time he has the puck, he knows what to do with it and where to shoot. He will be a very dangerous player.
