Norway Will Play All Night

See the kid to the left? Who would have thought he'd one day be the answer to a trivia question long after his days with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the QMJHL were over? He looks different now after aging about ten years since his days in Canada, but the Norwegian-born Joakim Jensen returned home to play professional hockey since 2007 with Storhamar. He's had a good run with Storhamar in being a respectable scorer averaging nearly a point per game, but no one would see what happened today in Norway coming in Jensen's future.

Some 8.5 hours after they dropped the puck to open the game, Joakim Jensen ended the game in the 11th period of play with his goal after 217 minutes and 14 seconds of play! Officially, this is now the world's longest regulation hockey game ever, and here's how that game-winning goal was scored.

Jensen ended the game for the Storhamar Dragons on their 96th shot of the game in the 2-1 victory! Their opponents, the Sparta Warriors, had 93 shots on net at the other end, so this game was not for the faint of heart. What's funny is that the game went so long that people called the police about possible missing persons!

Translated, the tweets read, "Hamar; Due hockey match between Storhamar and Sparta, which has lasted longer than usual, there are people who miss their loved ones." and "Several calls to the police about this. FYI it is not the fight finished." How crazy is that?!?

The game's length officially broke the record set by the NHL's Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Maroons in 1936 when they played a total of 176:30. Of the 5500 fans who started the game at the rink, it was estimated only 1100 fans or so witnessed Jensen's game-winning goal. Jensen's goal put Storhamar up 3-2 in their playoff series against Sparta, meaning we could see at least one more incredible battle like this if these two teams are as evenly matched as they seem!

In all seriousness, we probably won't see a game anywhere close to this length again. In case you were wondering, Samuel Ward, a 21 year-old Swedish netminder, took the 94-save loss on the night - that's mind-boggling to write! Game Six goes on Tuesday despite the two teams playing nearly four games today, and we'll see what kind of effect this game has on that game!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!