The Hives Pay a Visit to Vancouver - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

The Hives seem to be trying to get a lot of mileage out of cross-promotions with the NHL. It was only a few weeks ago that the Swedish band got a gig playing the NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta (pictured above). As it turns out, while the band was in Vancouver a week ago, they stopped by GM Place to play an impromptu game of shinny against three Swedes on the Canucks -- Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Alexander Edler Markus Naslund:

We know damn well that Sweden's Hives rule the live stage, but what about the ice rink? Determined to find out, the photogenic fivesome journeyed late last week from one frozen northerly land to another, Canada (where, okay, they also happened to be touring), to put a hockey challenge before three Swedish members of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.

The February 22 afternoon contest at General Motors Place went down just prior to the Hives' gig that evening at the Commodore Ballroom, and was organized (and documented) by record-making liaisons Canadian Recording Services.

Somehow, amid the clattering of sticks, the swooshing of air, and the slicing of ice skates, the Hives managed to put up five against the highly-trained Canucks. But, alas, it would not be enough, as the professionals-- though outnumbered-- emerged with a 6-5 victory over their garage-rocking opponents.

Judging by the photo, a good time was had by all.