Queen Elizabeth II is dead.
Now Markus Näslund remembers the powerful meeting with the regent – and the demands that were made.
– It was a big event, says the icon.
Yesterday afternoon it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II’s health had deteriorated, and that doctors were monitoring her. A few hours later, word came that she had died at home in Balmoral, Scotland.
Reveals the requirements
Elizabeth lived to be 96 years old, and was regent of Great Britain for a full 70 years – and is now mourned by a whole world. Sports have also sent their condolences to a large extent, and the NHL is no exception. Above all, the league has drawn attention to a moment from 2002, when a Swede was, to say the least, at the center of events.
The Queen was then in Vancouver, Canada, to ceremonially drop the puck during a game against the San Jose Sharks. Kenda is part of the British Commonwealth, and thus it was a big moment for the whole country when the Queen was visiting. And on the first floor, to receive the puck that the queen dropped, was Markus Näslund. Next to the queen was also Wayne Gretzky. That it was a big event, Näslund noticed not least before the whole thing, when he was given clear demands on what he could, and could not, do.
– We had a long preparation just to find out how we should act, we were told that we were not allowed to ride in a straight line towards her, for example. And we weren’t allowed to say anything to her unless she addressed us first, says Näslund to Expressen.
“Really cool in retrospect”
However, Näslund was prosecuted, he says:
– I gave her the puck and she then told me that the last game she had been to was in Toronto, fifty years earlier or whatever, so it was awesome, he says.
It is clear that Markus Näslund looks back on the whole thing with warmth, and as a proud moment during his career.
– Yes, of course it is. And that you have the pictures, where you are standing next to her with Gretzky in the background… these are great memories in retrospect.
READ MORE: The Swedish TV profile’s Tokilska against the distasteful behavior of the fans – after the queen’s death: “Shut up!”