Seven Gustavus Adolphus College alumni will represent the United States this week at the 2011 World Bandy Championships in Kazan, Russia.
John Arundel ’07, Scott Arundel ’08, Michael Hosfield ’07, Jon Keseley ’07, and Erik Kraska ’07 are all on the 2011 roster. Chris Halden ’78 and Chris Middlebrook ’79 serve as co-head coaches of the team.
Bandy is a game played on a rectangular sheet of ice the same size as a soccer field. Each team has 11 players, including a goalkeeper and like the game of hockey, skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team’s goal. Games feature two 45 minute halves.
The U.S. team finished the 2010 World Championships with a record of 1-5 after losses to Sweden, Russia, Norway, Finland, and Kazakstan and a 9-6 victory over Canada, which allowed the team to remain in Pool A for this year’s tournament. John Arundel finished the tournament as the team’s leading goal scorer with nine during the six games.
The schedule for the USA team at the 2011 World Championships is as follows:
- Sunday, Jan. 23 vs. Russia
- Monday, Jan. 24 vs. Kazakstan
- Tuesday, Jan. 25 vs. Finland
- Wednesday, Jan. 26 vs. Sweden
- Thursday, Jan. 27 vs. Norway
- Saturday, Jan. 29 – Semifinals or Qualification Game
- Sunday, Jan. 30 – Championship
The matches in Kazan will be played outdoors where the average January temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit. 20,000 spectators are expected for the team’s opening match against Russia on Sunday, Jan. 23.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510