National team's hockey trip becomes talking point: 'We have to be completely honest here'

The Norwegian national football team's recent trip to a Stanley Cup final game has sparked discussion, with some players notably absent from the outing.

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Here we have to be completely honest that I wasn't high enough in the hierarchy to be at the Stanley Cup.

Star player Erling Braut Haaland, along with several teammates and staff, attended the Carolina Hurricanes' victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. This excursion, however, was not universally shared among the squad.

Player representative Brede Hangeland acknowledged the existence of hierarchies within any group, including the national team. He observed that the distance between the team's biggest stars and other players has shortened over the years, a development he credits to the stars themselves. Despite this, not all players were part of the hockey outing.

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I am not the biggest hockey supporter.

Some players, like Torbjørn Heggem, stated they were not invited, while Thelo Aasgaard offered a more ambiguous response about his participation. Jørgen Strand Larsen, who did attend, commented that having a superstar like Haaland certainly makes securing such opportunities easier, though he also noted Haaland's patience with constant requests.

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I wasn't invited either. But I enjoy myself well at the hotel and enjoy playing cards at the hotel.

Hangeland emphasized that players have freedom and responsibility, and are not expected to participate in every team activity. He stated that players are free to make their own choices regarding their leisure time, and that the team functions well on the field regardless of who attends specific social events.

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I wouldn't (take the trip), when all was said and done.