{"id":6132,"date":"2026-02-09T08:19:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T08:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/6132\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T08:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T08:19:17","slug":"greenland-derby-against-the-us-is-a-chance-at-the-olympics-for-denmark-to-show-its-hockey-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/6132\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Greenland Derby’ against the US is a chance at the Olympics for Denmark to show its hockey growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

MILAN (AP) \u2014 Denmark’s athletes walking into the opening ceremony at the Olympics led Eurosport broadcaster Davide Livermore to highlight an upcoming men’s hockey game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe big crunch derby on Valentine\u2019s Day in the ice hockey rink, given all that\u2019s happening in Greenland at the moment, is the USA against Denmark,\u201d Livermore said. \u201cThe Greenland Derby, as no one\u2019s calling it just yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric in recent weeks about taking control of Greenland has stirred up national pride in Denmark, which oversees the semiautonomous island. That the teams just happen to face off at the Milan Cortina Olympics is no extra motivation to the players, but it is a chance for them to ride a wave of patriotism as significant underdogs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re just going out there to try to win a hockey game,” former NHL forward Alexander True said. \u201cWe\u2019re not thinking too much about anything other than the hockey game.\u201d<\/p>\n

To many back home, it may mean more than a hockey game. <\/p>\n

Onlookers and fans seem more tuned in to the geopolitical story line than members of the national team. Last month, thousands marched in support of Greenland, and hundreds of military veterans waved Danish flags at a silent protest in the capital city of Copenhagen.<\/p>\n

\u201cPolitics and all the stuff going on in the world is not something we\u2019re focused on right now,\u201d forward Nicklas Jensen said. \u201cBut of course playing against the U.S is special. It\u2019s arguably the best team on the planet they put together, so it\u2019s going to be a tough challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it’s a challenge Jensen and his teammates hope is also an opportunity to show how far the small country of 6 million people has come in hockey. Denmark was in the second-tier B division until 2003 and had not qualified for the Olympics until four years ago in Beijing.<\/p>\n

Now Denmark is at the Games for a second time in a row, a result of a pipeline of players making it to the NHL and inspiring others. Frans Nielsen led the way to the NHL and was followed by the likes of Jannik Hansen, Lars Eller, Frederik Andersen and Nikolaj Ehlers. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a long process, but we have been and we keep producing some top-level talent out of the small pool of players that we have,\u201d defenseman Oliver Lauridsen said. \u201cI think the fact that we have been able to perform on the biggest stage with the national team is also helping to foster the next generation of hockey players.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morten Poulsen, 37, is Denmark’s oldest player at the Olympics, and he has seen the growth firsthand. Poulsen has been around so long he has played with some of his younger teammates’ fathers and older brothers. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve known these guys from a very, very young age and seen all the sacrifices, all the hard work they\u2019ve been doing to be such a great success, both for themselves but especially from the nation, too,\u201d Poulsen said. \u201cThe hockey country of Denmark has really gathered a lot from a lot of people that\u2019s shown the way for a lot of years now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The most tangible evidence of the growth came last spring when Denmark stunned Canada \u2014 with three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini \u2014 on home ice in the quarterfinals at the world championships. Even losing in the bronze-medal game, fourth place was highest finish at any tournament in the national team’s history.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we\u2019re actually a team that\u2019s competing for some fun games in those tournaments,\u201d Jensen said. \u201cIt\u2019s great steps for the whole country, and it gives good belief and it\u2019s really cool to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the NHL’s best back at the Olympics for the first time since 2014, it’s hard to imagine Denmark matching or topping what it did at worlds. The Danes have the longest odds of winning their group that includes the U.S., Germany and Latvia at 33-1. They are tied for the third-longest shot of winning it all in Milan at 300-1 on BetMGM Sportsbook.<\/p>\n

Rather than feel intimidated, True said he and his teammates feel like they have nothing to lose and being such an underdog \u201cmakes us play a little more free and not grip the stick too much.\u201d The task being so tall is nothing new and actually something players are embracing.<\/p>\n

\u201cMight go into every game as underdogs, but that\u2019s what we love,\u201d Jensen said. \u201cWe love to try to surprise. We have a very proud, strong group that\u2019s really looking forward to this tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

AP Olympics: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics<\/p>\n


\n \"FILE<\/p>\n

FILE – Denmark’s Nikolaj Ehlers celebrates after scoring the winning goal in a quarterfinal game between Canada and Denmark at the hockey world championships, May 22, 2025, in Herning, Denmark. (Bo Amstrup\/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"FILE<\/p>\n

FILE – Denmark players celebrate after their 2-1 win in a quarterfinal game between Canada and Denmark at the hockey world championships, May 22, 2025, in Herning, Denmark. (Bo Amstrup\/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"FILE<\/p>\n

FILE – Denmark’s Nick Olesen (95) celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning goal in a quarterfinal game between Canada and Denmark at the hockey world championships, May 22, 2025, in Herning, Denmark. (Bo Amstrup\/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) \u2014 During a defensive struggle in the first half, the Seattle Seahawks got the consistency and cushion they needed \u2014 from their kicker. <\/p>\n

Jason Myers connected on a Super Bowl-record five field goals, scoring the first 12 points of the game to help the Seahawks pull away for a 29-13 Super Bowl 60 victory on Sunday. <\/p>\n

Myers connected on kicks of 33, 39, two from 41 and 26 yards. His 17 total points on five field goals and two extra points were also the most by a kicker in Super Bowl history. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s elite,\u201d holder and punter Michael Dickson said. \u201cThe attention that goes into the detail with him, it\u2019s really cool to see, and it pays off. And he\u2019s cool to be around. … He\u2019s got that mentality, and it\u2019s really cool to share this experience with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old Myers, in his 11th NFL season and seventh with Seattle, became the first player to score 200 points in a season, playoffs included. He finished with 206 points, breaking LaDainian Tomlinson’s record of 198 set in 2006.<\/p>\n

Dickson said there should have at least been some discussion about Myers winning the Super Bowl MVP award, a honor that has never been bestowed upon a kicker. Running back Kenneth Walker III, who ran for 135 yards and added 26 receiving, was selected the game’s MVP.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need multiple MVPs because K9, he went off,” Dickson said of Walker. “He\u2019s incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 30-year-old, Australian-born Dickson also helped put the Seahawks’ defense in an advantageous position, dropping three punts inside the 6-yard line. <\/p>\n

With Seattle hanging on to a 19-7 lead in the fourth quarter, Dickson had a 55-yard punt that was downed at the Patriots 4. New England’s final drive of the game started at its 6 when Dickson booted a 52-yarder that went out of bounds.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, this week was no different to any other week in the year,” said Dickson, in his eighth NFL season with the Seahawks. “So, you know, I always want to give my defense the best field position, and it\u2019s cool, you know, hitting it inside a few times, and getting the boys around me was special.\u201d<\/p>\n

AP NFL: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/NFL<\/p>\n


\n \"Seattle<\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks’ Michael Dickson (4) and place-kicker Jason Myers (5) celebrate Myers’ field goal during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo\/Charlie Riedel)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Seattle<\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks placekicker Jason Myers, top right, scores on a field goal against the New England Patriots in the second quarter of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Santiago Mejia\/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Seattle<\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers makes a 26-yard field goal during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo\/Brynn Anderson)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Seattle<\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) celebrates with fullback Brady Russell (38) after making a field goal during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo\/Matt Slocum)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Seattle<\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks place-kicker Jason Myers, right, makes a field goal during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo\/Godofredo A. V\u00e1squez)<\/p>\n

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