By STEPHEN WHYNO
MONTREAL (AP) — Filip Forsberg had a giant star from one other sport within the stands supporting him and Sweden on the 4 Nations Face-Off.
San Francisco 49ers tight finish George Kittle was among the many followers in attendance for the Sweden-Finland recreation on Saturday at Bell Centre. Kittle and Forsberg have gotten to know one another lately via their wives, Clair and Erin Alvey, who’re finest associates and got here up with the concept for the journey.
“They’re like, hey, we have a little opening in our schedule, why would you not want to go to Montreal, Canada, in February?” Kittle informed The Related Press throughout the first intermission. “Super happy that I’m here. What an amazing atmosphere.”
The 2-time All-Professional wore Sweden’s yellow jersey with the nation’s trademark three crows and Forsberg’s identify and No. 9 on the again, together with a hat that includes the Swedish flag and pretend yellow and blue hair.
“Fil brought everything,” Kittle stated. “Filip brought this for me and he goes, ‘You have to wear this.’ I said, ‘All right, I will do that.’”
Claire Kittle stated her husband actually purchased in to the entire expertise with the Sweden-colored hair. The couple additionally plans to attend the much-anticipated U.S.-Canada recreation on Saturday night time, however George is all in on supporting Forsberg and Sweden.
“When you get to perform for your country, I think it’s a big deal and the chance to do it so close to where I can actually go see him I think is a very special thing,” Kittle stated. “My first time ever doing something like this. I’ve never been to an Olympics or anything like that. A very unique experience, but you can just kind of tell how the love of hockey just goes through everybody.”
Kittle has gotten into hockey rather more since changing into associates with Forsberg after taking part in EA Sports activities’ NHL video video games as a child and taking part in some goaltender.
“My cousins would pepper with shots,” Kittle stated. “Couldn’t skate though.”
Forsberg equally has grow to be a fan of all issues NFL, not understanding a lot about American soccer whereas rising up in Sweden. He stated in 2023 that he did 50 hours of analysis for his first fantasy soccer draft and made the ultimate in his first season doing it.
“I love it,” Forsberg stated. “I watch Red Zone on Sundays. I’m all in. And through George I got to meet a bunch of other NFL players. I know not half the league but half the tight ends, at least because they do a tight end event in Nashville, so I got to meet a bunch of them.”
Forsberg tries to draft Kittle however doesn’t all the time land him within the Nashville Predators’ gamers league as a result of he received’t choose a decent finish too early.
“Guys, they know I’m coming for him, so they draft him early, and all due respect I’ve got to have a team,” Forsberg stated. “I can’t draft George in the third round. You’ve got to draft him where he’s supposed to go.”
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Initially Printed: February 15, 2025 at 12:05 PM PST
