The Capitals failed to win the Stanley Cup this past spring, but Nicklas Backstrom went home a champion anyway.
In May, Team Sweden won the 2017 World Championship and Backstrom scored the decisive shootout goal. Along with the gold medal, Backstrom received a bonus check worth 75000 Swedish Krona (approximately $10,000 USD).
On Saturday, gd.se reported that Backstrom donated all of that money to his former youth hockey club, Valbo HC.
Anders Backstrom, Nicky’s father, presented the ceremonial check to the club’s director on his behalf.
Photo: gd.se
“Backstrom showed the heart he has for Valbo,” the club wrote on its website. “Big thanks to Nicklas.”
Anders presented the check at center ice ahead of a game at NickBack Arena. The ice rink has been named after the Capitals center since 2011 when he assumed sponsorship. Backstrom spoke about his hometown rink in a profile with Viasat in 2014.
Backstrom’s love of hockey first blossomed with Valbo HC, originally named Valbo AIF, before he moved on to the SHL’s Brynäs IF in the early 2000’s. Backstrom’s brother Kristoffer also played for the club during the 2004-05 season.
Valbo HC plays all their games at NickBack Arena and there is an annual U-16 tournament held there entitled, what else, the Nicklas Backstrom Cup.
This is the second big donation Capitals players have made in consecutive days. Alex Ovechkin also made a donation to the Red Cross to benefit victims of to Hurricane Harvey.
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