Gustavus senior Erik Kraska poses with the gold medal.
Gustavus senior biology major Erik Kraska, former standout goaltender on the men’s varsity hockey team, was the goaltending anchor for the USA National Bandy Team that won its second consecutive B-Pool Gold Medal Championship at the 2007 World Bandy Championships in Kemerovo, Russia, January 26—February 6, 2007. Also on the current USA National Team is Gustavus junior Scott Arundel, who has been studying abroad this year in Uppsala, Sweden, and playing with a first-tier bandy team there.
The USA team swept the round robin, defeating Holland, Mongolia, Hungary, Estonia, and Latvia and outscoring the opposition 51—5 despite having an unprecedented five rookies making their international debut, including fullback Arundel and goalkeeper Kraska. For the tournament, the USA team finished 7—1 and earned the respect of the bandy world for their speed, creative style, and sportsmanship.
The city of Kemerovo, located in the remote Kuzzbuss region of Siberia, had spent the entire last year planning this tournament, and the USA players were stunned by the enthusiasm of the fans. As the USA team rolled up victories, they were mobbed everywhere for autographs and had a police escort everywhere they went. Rookie keeper Kraska quickly became a crowd and media favorite. There were bandy posters and flags from all the participating countries everywhere in the city, and the TV, radio, and newspaper coverage was nonstop. More than 30,000 people attended the Russia—Norway opener, which was played in sub-zero weather in the larger of the city’s two outdoor stadiums. The stadium’s huge new color Jumbotron allowed instant replay action and crowd shots.
In 2004 the Federation of International Bandy fulfilled the requirements of the International Olympic Committee for bandy to be recognized as an Olympic sport, and the forecast is that it will be an official venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada.