from Aaron Vickers at NHL.com,

A decade ago, Detroit Red Wings center Frans Nielsen couldn't have imagined standing on the blue line of a sheet of ice in his hometown singing "Der Er Et Yndigt Land," Denmark's national anthem, with nearly 11,000 hockey fans.

Even five years ago, he admits, would have been a bit of a stretch.

"Not a few years back, no," Nielsen said after singing alongside 10,800 fellow Danes to celebrate a 3-0 victory against Norway on Friday. "It's been exciting. It's been fun. The whole city has backed us up here. It's been incredible.

"All we've hoped for."

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