Photo: @MalinElis

In late February, as Swedish center Nicklas Backstrom prepared for one of the biggest games of his career, he learned he tested positive for a banned substance, Zyrtec D, an allergy medication.

Backstrom was barred from playing against Canada in the Sochi Olympics gold-medal game. He watched from the sidelines as his teammates got shut out 3-0. He suffered through a miserable press conference after the game and then another in Washington DC when he returned to North America for NHL action.

On March 14th, the International Olympic Committee ruled that Backstrom had suffered enough and that the gold medal game suspension was a sufficient punishment.

According to Malin Andersson of Hockey Ramblings, Backstrom has just received that darned silver medal. Swedish officials awarded it to Backstrom during a ceremony in his hometown of Gävle today, prior to a preseason game between his old Swedish team Brynäs and Djurgården.

Additional Photos

Photos: aftonbladet.se