Leksand IF visited Linköping HC on Sunday afternoon, in the last SDHL match before the international break and play resumes on 20 December for both teams with a return match up in Tegera Arena.
Last season the two clubs finished third (LHC) and fourth (LIF) - but this year they both find themselves at the bottom of the table going into the break in seventh and eighth, just above the relegation zone occupied by another former top club, MODO Hockey, and perennial stragglers, Gothenburg HC.
Sunday's match was the second time the two team's had met at Stångebro Hallen this year - but for Leksand IF it was another unwanted defeat. However, one of the differences between the two matches was that the Canadian, Brooke Boquist, was in the the blue and white dress of the visitors.
The 23 year old Providence College graduate scored the team's consolation goal to leave the final score as 4-2 to the home side.
But Boquist is no stranger to the SDHL.
This is actually her second year outside of the NCAA and her second year in Sweden, where last year she was at MODO Hockey (see photo). She was one of several Canadians at the club, included Michela Cava and Kaitlyn Tougas. In fact, Boquist and these two are all from the same town, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
But, unfortunately for the young star and the Örnsköldsvik club, Boquist received concussion and did not play for the second half of the season having been one of the league's top scorers with 20 points in 17 games, including 11 goals in 2018/9.
She has now been back in Sweden for Leksand for nine games, in which she has already amassed 10 points meaning she is at almost the exactly the same average as last year with 1.17 PPG.
To give you an idea of her talent, that puts her at a similar the production rate as Luleå/ MSSK's European international players, Emma Nordin (SWE) and Noora Tulus (FIN) as well at former teammate, Tougas.
The second half of Leksand's season will be focused on staying clear of the relegation zone and then mounting a playoff campaign which could take them further than last year's disappointing loss in the quarterfinals.
And you can guarantee that Brooke Boquist will play an important part in that journey. And, despite a year's break from Swedish hockey, the Canadian is already showing the kind of form which will be keeping the opposition's backs and goaltenders very busy before the 2019/20 season ends.
@ABritOnThinIce1
