Peter Forsberg's MoDo Hockey team had a dream of winning the Swedish Elite League this year. NHL MVP Peter Forsberg returned to his home country to fulfill a lifetime dream even before the Colorado Avalanche's season was put on hold. Unfortunately, Foppa's dreams and the dreams of the entire region north of Stockholm came to a halt on Monday when MoDo lost in the quarterfinals to Farjestad. Farjestad defeated MoDo 3-2 on Monday and won the quarterfinal series 4-2. Game 6 in the best-of-seven series shut out the MoDo hockey team's chances of a championship. However, MoDo and the town of Ornskoldsvik gained a hero-in-the-making. Ironically, the hero this year is Peter Forsberg's American teammate, Dan Hinote.

Late in the season, Hinote joined Forsberg, along with Forsberg's best friend, Tommy Salo, MoDo's goalie this year.

Hinote was a fellow teammate with the Colorado Avanlanche.

Dan came to Sweden after the NHL's season would clearly not be revived.

He came to the town of Ornskoldsvik.

And now MoDo's fan club, The Reds and the entire town want to make Hinote their mayor or president.

"Agent 58" Dan Hinote (left) Giving His All To The Game. (AP Photo Credit: Jimmy Wixtroem)

MoDo offered him far less than that and he accepted.

With an elite team of players, MoDo thought they could get the job done. But they didn't. They had all the skill and talent in the world. However, their competitors had bigger dreams of beating their childhood heroes, and they succeeded.

One man came to each game, however, with the talent, the skill and the heart.

Dan Hinote is that man.

The people of Ornskoldsvik and the media are extremely critical today of MoDo's hockey team and their coach. However, they are praising Hinote for giving his all to the games.

"He is one player who stepped onto the ice with a MoDo heart for winning every time," said Malin Edmark of Ornskoldsvik, who is one of MoDo's biggest fans.

Nicknamed Agent 58, Hinote has a dream of one day being an FBI agent.

Meanwhile, many of his friends with whom he attended West Point, are currently in Iraq.

Every day, Hinote thinks about his American classmates who are serving their country and putting their lives at risk.

Perhaps a bit of these soldiers' souls enter the rink with Hinote each time he plays.

Hinote is fierce and aggressive and everything the MoDo hockey fans are looking for in a tough player.

Hinote said:

I don't have the world's best hands, but I'm fighting and shoving and making my competitors frustrated. That's my role.

Someone needs to have that role.

The Swedish fans appreciate Hinote's tenacity and contribution.

However, they are a bit critical of his support where President Bush is concerned.

Hinote believes Bush is doing the right thing in taking responsibility where terrorism is concerned.

In Sweden, the comments and compliments regarding Hinote abound.

One MoDo Hockey fan says that the woman in Ornskoldsvik who can charm Hinote to stay in Sweden for another season will become the Queen of The Town.

Another fan suggests that they vote him into the presidency of Foppaland as a way of getting Hinote to stay at least another year.

Congratulations Dan Hinote for winning a town full of fans.

And thank you Malin Edmark for inspiring this story.

In the midst of the pain you and 60,000 other die-hard hockey fans have been feeling all week, you were able to rise above MoDo's loss and look for the silver lining in "The Big O's" season.

Thanks to the NHL's lock-out, Peter Forsberg, Tommy Salo and American's Dan Hinote of the Colorado Avalanche and Adrian Aucoin of the New York Islanders, Mattias Weinhandl of the Islanders, Hans Jonsson of the Pittsburg Penguins, Mattias Timander of Philadelphia Flyers, Markus Naslund, Henrik and Daniel Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs' defenseman Pierre Hedin, Frantisek Kaberle of the Atlanta Trashers (to name a few of over 30 NHL players who came to Sweden) brought months of entertainment to hungry hockey fans.

Arenas throughout Sweden have never been so full. Sponsorships are at an all-time high. And for the young men who once only dreamed of either playing against or with their childhood hero they will now forever be able to say, "I beat Peter Forsberg."

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful "Agent 58 inspired" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegant Living publisher

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