Photo: CHRISTIAN ÖRNBERG / BILDBYRÅN
Photo: PETTER ARVIDSON / BILDBYRÅN
Photo: SIMON HASTEGÅRD / BILDBYRÅN
William von Barnekow has gone all the way in Malmö’s A team. From coming from the parent club Limhamn as a youth player, to having gone all the way as a junior up in the A team.
Last week he signed a contract until 2027 and he will thus be one of the core players in Björn Liljander’s team building going forward.
Last fall he played with Lauri Pajuniemi and Janne Kuokkanen. Then a couple of matchers are back in the center with Henrik Haapala and Joona Ikonen on the deck.
In one of the SHL matches played a while ago, the Danish national team captain Mikael Gath was also present to check out players for his upcoming national team gatherings.
For Expressen, he admitted that William von Barnekow is of great interest to his team.
But that there probably wouldn’t be a national team game, for the Dane.
All because of a regulation by the IIHF, the international ice hockey federation, which forces players into the domestic hockey, so that they can play in the national team.
– They changed the rules a number of years ago. You must have played in the country you are going to represent for two years. I have never played in the Danish league, explains von Barnekow.
But you’re Danish, right?
– Yes, yes! Both my parents are Danish citizens, I was born in Sweden, but I got the Danish passport and didn’t become a Swedish citizen until I was 14 or something like that.
How do you feel when you are denied a game in the national team, given the fairly clear conditions you have as a Danish citizen?
– Actually, it’s sick. Both parents are Danish, we only speak Danish at home and the whole family is Danish. When I come here for training, me and (Matias) Lassen speak Danish. I have spoken Danish all my life. So why shouldn’t I be allowed to play in the national team that is mine, he says.
The message: Must play in the domestic league
– The rules are strange, I must say. I would understand if there are players who have no connection whatsoever to a country. But now it is enough for a player to be in a league for two years, then that player has more authority to play in a national team than I have, who is really a Danish citizen. Weird!
It would have been a dream to play for the Danish national team?
– Absolutely. There was talk about it already when it was JVM, but then we got more or less the same message. This is how it has been since it first came up. You have hoped, but deep down you have understood that it will not work.
I’m guessing that you, who have an SHL contract, are not very keen on taking a detour to the Danish league for two years, just for that?
– That will not happen. Possibly when you’re at the end of your career and don’t measure up, but no, this is just sick. I have all the prerequisites as a Dane, but am not allowed to play in the Danish national team. I’ve always supported Denmark in national football matches and you’ve been told that at school, so it’s sad that you can’t play for that country, says William von Barnekow.
William von Barnekow: Caught Between Two Nations
Ah, the delightful world of international sport—a realm where eligibility rules seem designed by someone who’s lost a bet on a pub quiz. Meet William von Barnekow, the unfortunate ice hockey player who finds himself at the intersection of national identity and bureaucratic nonsense. Yes, it’s a real page-turner, folks!
Now, William began his hockey journey in Limhamn, blazed a trail to Malmö’s A team, and even strutted his stuff through last week’s contract signing—right through 2027! A core player, they said! But wait, there’s a twist. It’s like ordering a steak and getting tofu instead—sheer disappointment served on a platter!
The Conundrum
So, what’s the issue, you ask? Well, it turns out our hero, despite being as Danish as a pastry in a Copenhagen bakery, is being told he can’t play for the Danish national team unless he spends two delightful years frolicking in the Danish league. Two years! I mean, with all that skating, you’d think they were making him go through an initiation ceremony. Maybe a secret handshake, or a dance-off with a grumpy moose?
Picture this: Both parents Danish, Danish languages dancing in the home, and yet… no national jersey for you, my lad! Incredibly, a player who may have no ties to Denmark but skates in the league for two years has a better shot at donning that iconic red and white than William. Now, that’s what I call sporting irony!
William, wise beyond his years and hinting at the sheer absurdity of the situation, states, “It’s sick! I’m basically a walking Danish heritage site!” And quite rightly so! When you can chat away in Danish with teammates like Matias Lassen, you’d expect a ticket to represent the team—not be told to take a scenic detour through a league with no emotional attachment.
A Dream Deferred
Let’s be honest here; it would have been a dream to represent Denmark on the international stage. But alas, the dream feels more like a long-lost fairy tale—illogical rulings turning realities into potential “what if” stories. “I was told that at school.” Oh, the nostalgia of youthful dreams crushed under the heavy weight of regulations!
It’s astounding and slightly ridiculous that laws meant to protect the identity of national teams can sometimes transform them into exclusive clubs, where DNA doesn’t always grant you entry. How many international teammates can shout, “I don’t care where I come from; I’m on this team now!” But poor William must shake his fists at the sky, shouting, “I am Danish! I should be wearing that jersey!”—as bureaucrats chuckle over their cups of coffee.
Ah, but what’s next? Will he pack his bags for the Danish league, just to chase that elusive national call-up? Let’s not kid ourselves! William quips it will happen “possibly at the end of your career.” Translation: “Absolutely not! I’m a professional, thank you very much!”
Conclusion: A Lesson in Absurdity
In the grandiose theater of international sports, let’s make room for a new character—William von Barnekow, the man caught in a crossfire between his heritage and hockey bureaucracy. Here’s a toast for the day when sporting regulations see the light of reason. Until then, let’s enjoy this tragicomedy and cheer for our boy, just dreaming of the day he can finally unwrap that national hockey sweater.
Who knew that the pulse of hockey could beat so humorously beneath the surface? Keep your chin up, William;
you’re a hero in our eyes—and maybe a national team will come to its senses and call you up one day! Now that would be worth a celebratory Danish pastry!
Photo: CHRISTIAN ÖRNBERG / BILDBYRÅN
Photo: PETTER ARVIDSON / BILDBYRÅN
Photo: SIMON HASTEGÅRD / BILDBYRÅN
William von Barnekow has successfully risen through the ranks to join Malmö’s A team after starting his journey as a youth player at Limhamn, showcasing his skills and determination along the way.
Last week, in a significant move for his career, he signed a contract that secures his position with the club until 2027, confirming his role as a pivotal player in Björn Liljander’s vision for team development.
Last fall, von Barnekow demonstrated exceptional talent while playing alongside notable players like Lauri Pajuniemi and Janne Kuokkanen, contributing to the team’s dynamic. More recently, he has returned to the center position, teaming up with Henrik Haapala and Joona Ikonen in important fixtures.
In one of the recent SHL matches, Mikael Gath, the Danish national team captain, was spotted observing potential talent for his upcoming national team selections, highlighting von Barnekow’s growing reputation in the ice hockey community.
During an interview with Expressen, Gath expressed that William von Barnekow remains a key player of interest for his team, indicating his potential future contributions at the national level.
However, due to specific regulations imposed by the IIHF, the international ice hockey federation, von Barnekow’s aspirations to play for Denmark’s national team appear to be hindered, as these rules mandate that players must compete in the domestic league to qualify for national representation.
– They changed the rules a number of years ago. You must have played in the country you are going to represent for two years. I have never played in the Danish league, explains von Barnekow.
But you’re Danish, right?
– Yes, yes! Both my parents are Danish citizens, I was born in Sweden, but I got the Danish passport and didn’t become a Swedish citizen until I was 14 or something like that.
How do you feel when you are denied a game in the national team, given the fairly clear conditions you have as a Danish citizen?
– Actually, it’s sick. Both parents are Danish, we only speak Danish at home and the whole family is Danish. When I come here for training, me and (Matias) Lassen speak Danish. I have spoken Danish all my life. So why shouldn’t I be allowed to play in the national team that is mine, he says.
The message: Must play in the domestic league
– The rules are strange, I must say. I would understand if there are players who have no connection whatsoever to a country. But now it is enough for a player to be in a league for two years, then that player has more authority to play in a national team than I have, who is really a Danish citizen. Weird!
It would have been a dream to play for the Danish national team?
– Absolutely. There was talk about it already when it was JVM, but then we got more or less the same message. This is how it has been since it first came up. You have hoped, but deep down you have understood that it will not work.
I’m guessing that you, who have an SHL contract, are not very keen on taking a detour to the Danish league for two years, just for that?
– That will not happen. Possibly when you’re at the end of your career and don’t measure up, but no, this is just sick. I have all the prerequisites as a Dane, but am not allowed to play in the Danish national team. I’ve always supported Denmark in national football matches and you’ve been told that at school, so it’s sad that you can’t play for that country, says William von Barnekow.
Me a Swedish citizen until I was 14 or something like that.
How do you feel when you are denied a game in the national team, given the fairly clear conditions you have as a Danish citizen?
– Actually, it’s sick. Both parents are Danish, we only speak Danish at home, and the whole family is Danish. When I come here for training, me and (Matias) Lassen speak Danish. I have spoken Danish all my life. So why shouldn’t I be allowed to play in the national team that is mine, he says.
The Message: Must Play in the Domestic League
– The rules are strange, I must say. I would understand if there are players who have no connection whatsoever to a country. But now it is enough for a player to be in a league for two years, then that player has more authority to play in a national team than I have, who am really a Danish citizen. Weird!
It would have been a dream to play for the Danish national team?
– Absolutely. There was talk about it already when it was JVM, but then we got more or less the same message. This is how it has been since it first came up. You have hoped, but deep down you have understood that it will not work.
I’m guessing that you, who have an SHL contract, are not very keen on taking a detour to the Danish league for two years, just for that?
– That will not happen. Possibly when you’re at the end of your career and don’t measure up, but no, this is just sick. I have all the prerequisites as a Dane, but am not allowed to play in the Danish national team. I’ve always supported Denmark in national football matches and you’ve been told that at school, so it’s sad that you can’t play for that country, says William von Barnekow.
Conclusion: A Lesson in Absurdity
William von Barnekow illustrates the complexities and often absurdities of representing national identity in sports. In an age when we can connect globally, why should a bureaucratic rule stand in the way of passion and heritage? His story is a potent reminder that, sometimes, the heart does not align with regulations, leaving dedicated athletes like William yearning for acknowledgment that feels just out of reach.
Here’s hoping for a future where passion for one’s nationality is recognized, and players like William can finally wear the jersey that reflects their true identity. Until that day comes, we’ll cheer him on from the sidelines, celebrating his accomplishments and integrity in the face of unnecessary hurdles.
Let’s raise a toast to William von Barnekow—the true embodiment of national spirit struggling against the rules of international ice hockey!
