From Derek Jory at Canucks.com:
The Sedins were informed they were one of six nominees for the Victoria Stipendium, an annual award given to the Swedish athlete of the year by Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden.
Every year since Crown Princess Victoria was born in 1979 the honor has been presented to an athlete or athletes as part of the princess’ birthday celebration, beginning with Ingemar Stenmark, the greatest slalom and giant slalom alpine skier of all time.
The Sedins won the award together; as a duo, they were honoured as the singular athlete of year, which seems a bit odd. But apparently the whole thing is quite a big deal in Sweden, and the twins were only the 3rd and 4th hockey players to ever win it (Stefan Persson and Peter Forsberg preceded them).
During the awards, the royal attendees apparently mistook the garbage bags on their seats (keeping the seats dry from the rain) as rain gear. “Next thing you know King Carl XVI Gustaf is punching holes for his arms and head into a garbage bag.” Seriously.
Afterwards, they presented Crown Princess Victoria with a Canucks jersey. Poor woman—and the rest of her family—are probably still confused by the whole thing.
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