Like many young adults his age, Anthony Gardner is home for the holidays.
But while others his age are back home with their families while on break from their college or university semesters, it is a little different for Gardner.
The 20-year-old arrived back in Langley last week, on break from his rookie season of professional hockey with Fagersta AIK, a Swedish second division hockey team. The league is the fourth tier of pro hockey in Sweden.
“When you are growing up, playing professionally at any level is the dream for any hockey player,” Gardner said.
“Not too many kids get to do that, so it is definitely a privilege playing professional hockey.”
“And when it came down to it, I had always wanted to see Europe.”
Gardner played through the ranks of the Langley Minor Hockey Association and then after a season of junior B in the Kootenay Junior Hockey League, spent three years in the B.C. Hockey League, including winning a Fred Page Cup with the Coquitlam Express in 2014.
He finished his junior eligibility last year with Salmon Arm, and while Gardner thought about going to school and continuing to play either in Canada or the U.S., he was approached by a scout about going to Europe.
After contemplating his options, Gardner went for it.
“I thought why not go out and give it a shot and try to further my career,” he said.
The town is about two hours northwest of Stockholm and Gardner shares an apartment with a pair of Canadian teammates.
On the ice, the six-foot, 175-pound defenceman has three goals and nine points in 14 games.
And the game is different from the BCHL, which he described as faster and more physical.
“There is a lot more skill and a lot more puck possession (here),” he explained.
The regional league features 10 teams and the longest road trip — done by bus and train — is two hours.
On the ice, it has been nothing different from what he is used to, but the biggest adjustment has been living away from home and handling the off-ice day-to-day actions of adulthood, Gardner added.
Gardner is on a one-year contract and knows this is a foot in the door.
“Obviously you want to play in the highest league in the world, no matter what,” he said.
“And if the NHL doesn’t work out, there are a lot more options out there for me. I am just going to keep playing the best I can and see how it goes.”
He is scheduled to head back to Sweden on Jan. 4.
