Salo Feels the Wrath of Swedes

Edmonton Oiler goalie Tommy Salo’s family has been harassed since he gave up the winning goal in Sweden’s stunning Olympic hockey loss to Belarus, according to Pittsburgh goalie Johan Hedberg.

Sweden’s fans took the loss hard, with newspapers ridiculing the players, particularly Salo. One newspaper published the players’ pictures and NHL salaries and called them guilty of betraying their country. Another paper called it “a day of shame.”

“It’s been tough for him,” said Hedberg, who is Salo’s friend and was his backup in the Olympics. “People back home [have been complaining] to his parents, have been mean to them. Even his sister’s kids in school, the other kids have been mean to them.

“It’s just ridiculous.”

Salo, the star of Sweden’s gold-medal winning team in 1994, allowed the winning goal to bounce in off the side of his head in Belarus’ 4-3 quarterfinal victory Wednesday, one of the biggest Olympic hockey upsets ever.

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