Head of Swedish Hockey horrified with how top trophy is being treated by Championship team

The head of the Swedish Hockey Federation is straight up not having a good time lately, and it has everything to do with how Sweden's top hockey prize is being treated by the latest team to win it.

"It's deplorable pictures, it's been mistreated, I'm not at all happy with the way they've behaved," said Tibor Greg.

Greg is referring to pictures and videos appearing online that show the Le Mat Trophy missing parts and being tossed around by members of Färjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). At one point, one of Färjestad's players lifted the trophy over his head while on stage in the city, only to drop it behind his back in what appeared to be a celebration that included plenty of alcohol.

"I have seen the pictures and followed it in despair. Goldsmiths who have been involved have contacted us and have been very worried. I contacted Färjestad on Monday to try to get an explanation," said Greg.

Greg admits there is an original Le Mat Trophy - given to the SIHF in 1926 by Sweden's founding father of ice hockey, Raoul Le Mat - as well as a replica. He said Färjestad currently has both and he's been assured that the one that's being used is the replica. Greg said that doesn't make him feel any better.

"I got a picture from Färjestad on Sunday that they had locked the original in a glass cabinet in the office. That's what they claimed anyway but I don't know if it was true," said Greg. They have permission to use the original in an orderly fashion, because of course they should be proud of it. Of course, it's not possible to protect it completely in the joy of the ice when they have the gold medals around their necks, then when the season is over it's not just sports drinks in the dressing room and on the flight home."

Greg explained that he doesn't want the replica to get too damaged either, as the Federation didn't want to have to create several copies.

"I have received guarantees that the original will be perfectly fine, they will have stored and defended it according to our instructions. The replica, on the other hand, is badly damaged, and I have demanded that it be returned to us as soon as possible," he said.

Here's a picture posted to Twitter showing the Le Mat Trophy missing the shafts of each hockey stick that are supposed to be on top of the award.

Source: AftonBladet

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