#Magnus Karlsson

[metalsongoftheday]

Friday, February 23: Primal Fear, "Into the Fire"

Once Primal Fear’s lineup coalesced (if not stabilized) around 2018, the group had 5 credible songwriters between them.  However, Apocalpyse was still almost entirely composed by the combination of Mat Sinner, Magnus Karlsson and Ralf Scheepers, with Tom Naumann and Alex Beyrodt contributing one track each, and the latter’s “Into the Fire” even then being relegated to bonus track status.  That number, besides being a rare Beyrodt/Sinner/Scheepers co-write, bordered on hair metal with its thumping groove and percolating electronics, which made it both an outlier in the PF discography as well as an enjoyable diversion from their sometimes overbearing seriousness.  With Scheepers generally game to sing just about anything asked of him, and Sinner apparently committed to releasing anything and everything he came up with, it was apparently on Beyrodt to propel the track forward, and while “Into the Fire” didn’t really fit with the largely melodramatic Apocalypse, it had a spark to it that Primal Fear would’ve been wise to follow more often.

[rockyoushow]

Power Metal Legends PRIMAL FEAR Release Lyric Video For "Cancel Culture"

  Taken off the album “Code Red” (September 1st, 2023). Stream, get it here: https://primalfear.afr.link/CodeRedYT “There are countries where you just disappear if you speak your mind. These are intolerable conditions. But I’m not backing down. I’ve always been a rebel, I don’t want to conform. And I don’t have to play in certain countries either. It’s that simple”. – Mat Sinner “The way the…

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have Wide Open 1974

[intheupside]

[ronnydeschepper]

Honderd jaar geleden: Erik Bohlin wint de eerste Ronde van Zweden

De Ronde van Zweden (Zweedse naam: Postgirot Open) was een meerdaagse wielerwedstrijd die tussen 1982 en 2002 werd verreden in Zweden. Op 22 juni was thuisrenner Tommi Prim de eerste winnaar. Tussen 1924 en 1975 werd de koers verreden als amateurkoers onder de naam Sexdagarsloppet of kortweg Sexdagars (“Zesdaagse”). De eerste editie werd gewonnen door Erik Bohlin, eveneens een Zweed,…

[stayallnite]

[ozkanyildizhan]

From the album HUNT THE FLAME. Buy or Stream: https://orcd.co/hunttheflame

[icedbatik]

One of these things ...

From Taylor's latest Survey Say, asking about favorite athletes:

Sidney Crosby: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal

Marcus Pettersson: Christiano Ronaldo, Carlos Alcaraz (tennis)

Sam Poulin: Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan

Jansen Harkins: Kobe Bryant

Michael Bunting: Roger Federer

Radim Zohorna: Ronaldo, Federer, Nadal

Kris Letang: Michael Schumacher (Formula 1)

Jack St. Ivany: Kobe Bryant

Ryan Shea: Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal

Jonathan Gruden: Miguel Cabrera

Emil Bemstrom: Leo Messi

Valtteri Puustinen: Messi

Reilly Smith: Tiger Woods

Erik Karlsson: Roger Federer

John Ludvig: Steph Curry

Drew O'Connor: Eli Manning

Colin White: Tom Brady, Patty Mahomes

Rickard Rakell: Michael van Gerwen. He's a darts player, the best darts player that's ever played.

Magnus Hellberg: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (soccer)

Jake Guentzel: Tiger Woods, LeBron James. I just think what they've done is pretty remarkable. And I just look at what LeBron has done over his career, I think it's pretty unique. He reminds me of Sid. Him and Sid are kind of doing this together where they're aging like fine wine. Father Time is not really getting them. So it's pretty remarkable to watch.

Chad Ruhwedel: Kobe or Tiger

Tristan Jarry: LeBron, Michael Jordan, Kobe

Lars Eller: Hmmm ... I don't know.

Jesse Puljujarvi: Usain Bolt

Joona Koppanen: Usain Bolt

[black-arcana]

Former NIGHTWISH Vocalist ANETTE OLZON Releases Music Video For New Solo Single 'Hear My Song'

Anette Olzon, the former powerhouse vocalist of NIGHTWISH and one half of the dynamic duo behind THE DARK ELEMENT alongside former SONATA ARCTICA guitarist Jani Liimatainen, has released the official music video for her new solo single, "Hear My Song". It is taken from her third solo album, "Rapture", which is being released today (Friday, May 10) via Frontiers Music Srl.

Set to captivate audiences worldwide, "Rapture" promises to deliver an electrifying blend of heavy melodies and soaring vocals that solidify Olzon's esteemed status as one of the premier female voices in the metal genre.

Following in the footsteps of her critically acclaimed second solo album, "Strong", Anette once again teams up with acclaimed Swedish guitarist and producer Magnus Karlsson to craft a musical experience that pushes boundaries and excites the senses. Together, they have curated a collection of songs that showcase Anette's unparalleled vocal range, complemented by Karlsson's masterful riffs and the addition of growls by Johan Husgafvel, adding a dynamic layer to the album's sound.

"Rapture" seamlessly navigates through various musical genres, from symphonic to melodic power metal, with hints of melo-death, while maintaining an irresistibly catchy and melodious essence. Olzon's performance on this album is her most versatile yet, proving her ability to evolve and innovate while staying true to her signature style.

Renowned mixer Jacob Hansen, known for his work with PRETTY MAIDS, VOLBEAT and THE DARK ELEMENT, returns to the fold to ensure that "Rapture" achieves the perfect balance between heaviness and hookiness, resulting in an album that is both impactful and memorable.

"Rapture" is set to unleash its sonic fury upon the world, cementing Olzon's status as a force to be reckoned with in the metal music scene. Prepare to be swept away by the sheer power and beauty of Anette Olzon's "Rapture".

"Rapture" track listing:

01. Heed The Call 02. Rapture 03. Day Of Wrath 04. Requiem 05. Arise 06. Take A Stand 07. Cast Evil Out 08. Greedy World 09. Hear My Song 10. Head Up High 11. We Search For Peace

Recording linup:

Anette Olzon - Vocals Magnus Karlsson - Guitar, Bass, Keyboards Anders Köllerfors - Drums Johan Husgafvel - Growls

The Swedish-born singer originally joined NIGHTWISH in 2007 and recorded two studio LPs with the band before being dismissed in 2012 in the middle of the group's North American tour. She was replaced by former AFTER FOREVER frontwoman Floor Jansen.

Olzon reflected on her time with NIGHTWISH in a 2021 interview with Finland's Chaoszine. Asked how she looks back on the entire five-year experience, she said: "Well, it's mixed emotions. It was a hell of a ride. You know how it was with the media in Finland. And for me, I didn't understand what was happening because I didn't know how big the band was, since I don't live in Finland. So it was really fun the first years with everything and also crazy. I wasn't home a lot. They did their heaviest touring when I joined. All of a sudden, they wanted to do so many long weeks [on the road]. I remember just that I had a five-year-old son [and] I came home after five weeks. I was home one week. I didn't almost have time to unpack my bags before I went off again for four weeks. So I don't remember everything, to be honest. There are so many things that I don't remember. And also, of course, the last years where it wasn't such a nice atmosphere between us. And I had my third child, and things happened.

"So I remember it both with really happy, happy feelings, but also with very, very negative and sad feelings," she explained. "But, of course, it was an amazing experience, and it was my dream that came true to be a full-time singer in an amazing big band. And they are a super-good band. So I bless the albums that we did and will always cherish that time, of course."

Not long after Olzon was fired from NIGHTWISH 11 years ago, she claimed that an argument arose between her and NIGHTWISH when she asked for an Australian tour to be postponed during her pregnancy. Keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen suggested that Jansen should front the band on a temporary basis, but Olzon said no.

Anette explained in a 2014 interview: "I would have been too pregnant to go to Australia, so I wanted to push the dates back, but Tuomas didn't want that. Discussions about a substitute came up, and at first, I was, like, 'Yeah, well, okay.' But when they mentioned Floor, it was an automatic 'no' from me. I didn't think it was a good idea, because I knew what would happen — I knew the fans would love Floor, because she's a metal singer and I'm a pop singer, and I wanted to keep my job."

A year after NIGHTWISH fired Olzon, the band released a statement denying that she was dismissed because of pregnancy or illness. "We discovered her personality didn't fit this work community, and was even detrimental to it," the group said. NIGHTWISH went on to say that Anette was initially receptive to the idea of hiring a temporary replacement if she couldn't "manage everything," but that she later "took back her decision, and the difficulties really started. Fear of losing money and position seemed obvious." The band also insisted that "Anette and her company" were "paid a fifth of everything that was done during her time" with NIGHTWISH.

Since the end of her stint with NIGHTWISH, Olzon also formed THE DARK ELEMENT with Liimatainen. The group's self-titled debut album was released in 2017; a follow-up, "Songs The Night Sings", came out in 2019.

Olzon and noted progressive metal vocalist Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X, ADRENALINE MOB) released a collaborative album titled "Worlds Apart" in March 2020 via Frontiers Music Srl. The project was issued under the moniker ALLEN/OLZON. A follow-up album, "Army Of Dreamers", arrived in 2022.

[goalhofer]

2023-24 1st NHL Games

October 10, 2023

Waltteri Merelä (Tampa Bay) vs. Nashville.

Connor Bedard (Chicago) at Pittsburgh.

Kevin Korchinski (Chicago) at Pittsburgh.

October 11, 2023

Fraser Minten (Toronto) vs. Montreal.

Matt Poitras (Boston) vs. Chicago.

Johnny Beecher (Boston) vs. Chicago.

Alex Laferriere (Los Angeles) vs. Colorado.

October 12, 2023

Adam Fantilli (Columbus) vs. Philadelphia.

Zach Benson (Buffalo) vs. New York Rangers.

Uvis Balinskis (Florida) at Minnesota.

Matthew Samoskevich (Florida) at Minnesota.

October 13, 2023

Logan Cooley (Arizona) at New Jersey.

October 14, 2023

Emil Andrae (Philadelphia) at Ottawa.

Pavel Mintyukov (Anaheim) at Vegas.

October 15, 2023

Matt Tomkins (Tampa Bay) at Ottawa.

October 16, 2023

Justin Sourdif (Florida) at New Jersey.

October 19, 2023

Leo Carlsson (Anaheim) vs. Dallas.

Tristan Luneau (Anaheim) vs. Dallas.

October 21, 2023

Hardy Häman-Aktell (Washington) at Montreal.

Ryan Shea (Pittsburgh) at St. Louis.

Ty Emberson (San José) at Nashville.

October 24, 2023

John Ludvig (Pittsburgh) vs. Dallas.

October 25, 2023

Hunter Shepard (Washington) at New Jersey.

October 26, 2023

Dmitri Voronkov (Columbus) at Montreal.

Ilya Salauyou (Calgary) vs. St. Louis.

October 27, 2023

Daemon Hunt (Minnesota) at Washington.

October 28, 2023

Nikolas Matinpalo (Ottawa) at Pittsburgh.

November 1, 2023

Connor Zary (Calgary) vs. Dallas.

November 2, 2023

Mason Lohrei (Boston) vs. Toronto.

November 4, 2023

Marc Del Gaizo (Nashville) at Edmonton.

Ryan Johnson (Buffalo) at Toronto.

Roby Järventie (Ottawa) vs. Tampa Bay.

Magnus Chrona (San José) vs. Pittsburgh.

Raphaël Lavoie (Edmonton) vs. Nashville.

Martin Pospíšil (Calgary) at Seattle.

November 7, 2023

Ondřej Pavel (Colorado) vs. New Jersey.

November 9, 2023

Ryan Winterton (Seattle) at Colorado.

November 13, 2023

Sam Malinski (Colorado) at Seattle.

November 16, 2023

Linus Karlsson (Vancouver) at Calgary.

November 22, 2023

Jayden Struble (Montreal) at Anaheim.

November 25, 2023

Jiří Kulich (Buffalo) at New Jersey.

Isak Rosén (Buffalo) at New Jersey.

November 30, 2023

Sam Laberge (New Jersey) at Philadelphia.

December 1, 2023

Šimon Nemec (New Jersey) vs. San José.

December 3, 2023

Louis Crevier (Chicago) at Minnesota.

December 7, 2023

Ryker Evans (Seattle) vs. New Jersey.

December 8, 2023

Marc Johnstone (Pittsburgh) at Florida.

December 9, 2023

Jiří Smejkal (Ottawa) at Detroit.

December 15, 2023

Adam Edström (New York Rangers) vs. Anaheim.

December 17, 2023

Angus Crookshank (Ottawa) at Vegas.

December 20, 2023

Ivan Miroshnichenko (Washington) vs. New York Islanders.

December 21, 2023

Emil Heineman (Montreal) at Minnesota.

December 30, 2023

Georgii Merkulov (Boston) vs. New Jersey.

January 4, 2024

Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers) vs. Chicago.

Declan Carlile (Tampa Bay) at Minnesota.

January 5, 2024

Vasili Ponomaryov (Carolina) at Washington.

January 6, 2024

Emil Martinsen-Lilleberg (Tampa Bay) at Boston.

Jack Thompson (Tampa Bay) at Boston.

Graeme Clarke (New Jersey) vs. Vancouver.

Lukas Cormier (Vegas) vs. New York Islanders.

January 8, 2024

Jason Polin (Colorado) vs. Boston.

January 9, 2024

Yan Kuznetsov (Calgary) vs. Ottawa.

January 10, 2024

Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota) at Dallas.

January 11, 2024

Gage Goncalves (Tampa Bay) vs. New Jersey.

January 13, 2024

Phil Kemp (Edmonton) at Montreal.

Joshua Roy (Montreal) vs. Edmonton.

Max Crozier (Tampa Bay) vs. Anaheim.

January 15, 2024

Brendan Brisson (Vegas) vs. Nashville.

January 19, 2024

Kyle MacLean (New York Islanders) at Chicago.

January 20, 2024

Adam Klapka (Calgary) vs. Edmonton.

January 23, 2024

Olen Zellweger (Anaheim) vs. Buffalo.

January 27, 2024

Shakir Mukhamadullin (San José) vs. Buffalo.

February 16, 2024

Matt Villalta (Arizona) vs. Carolina.

February 18, 2024

Matt Rempe (New York Rangers) at New York Islanders.

February 19, 2024

Marshall Rifai (Toronto) at St. Louis.

Justin Brazeau (Boston) vs. Dallas.

Mason Morelli (Vegas) at San José.

February 20, 2024

Arshdeep Bains (Vancouver) at Colorado.

February 22, 2024

Zachary Bolduc (St. Louis) vs. New York Islanders.

February 24, 2024

Pierrick Dubé (Washington) at Florida.

Logan Stankoven (Dallas) at Carolina.

February 25, 2024

Brian Halonen (New Jersey) vs. Tampa Bay.

March 7, 2024

Patrik Koch (Arizona) vs. Minnesota.

March 12, 2024

Zack Ostapchuk (Ottawa) vs. Pittsburgh.

March 14, 2024

Marat Khusnutdinov (Minnesota) vs. Anaheim.

March 15, 2024

Landon Slaggert (Chicago) vs. Los Angeles.

March 17, 2024

Devin Cooley (San José) at Chicago.

March 21, 2024

Zach Dean (St. Louis) at Ottawa.

March 22, 2024

Jack St. Ivany (Pittsburgh) at Dallas.

March 24, 2024

Cam Crotty (Arizona) vs. Dallas.

March 26, 2024

Brandon Scanlin (New York Rangers) vs. Philadelphia.

James Malatesta (Columbus) at Arizona.

Josh Doan (Arizona) vs. Columbus.

Logan Morrison (Seattle) vs. Anaheim.

March 30, 2024

Cameron Butler (Columbus) vs. Pittsburgh.

April 1, 2024

Ivan Fedotov (Philadelphia) vs. New York Islanders.

Akil Thomas (Los Angeles) at Winnipeg.

April 6, 2024

Collin Graf (San José) vs. St. Louis.

April 9, 2024

Maksymilian Szuber (Arizona) at Seattle.

April 12, 2024

Ethan Del Mastro (Chicago) vs. Nashville.

Scott Morrow (Carolina) at St. Louis.

Sam Colangelo (Anaheim) vs. Calgary.

Liam Öhgren (Minnesota) at Vegas.

April 14, 2024

Frank Nazar III (Chicago) vs. Carolina.

April 15, 2024

Lane Hutson (Montreal) at Detroit.

Georgi Romanov (San José) at Edmonton.

April 16, 2024

Logan Mailloux (Montreal) vs. Detroit.

Jackson Blake (Carolina) at Columbus.

Bradly Nadeau (Carolina) at Columbus.

Luca Del Bel Belluz (Columbus) vs. Carolina.

Gavin Brindley (Columbus) vs. Carolina.

April 17, 2024

Ruslan Iskhakov (New York Islanders) vs. Pittsburgh.

Aku Räty (Arizona) vs. Edmonton.

April 18, 2024

Nikita Chibrikov (Winnipeg) vs. Vancouver.

Brad Lambert (Winnipeg) vs. Vancouver.

William Gauthier (Anaheim) at Vegas.

[metalsongoftheday]

Thursday, April 25: The Ferrymen, "The Last Ship"

“The Last Ship” found Ronnie Romero, Magnus Karlsson and Mike Terrana doing exactly what we’d expect, because clearly these guys can’t stop.  Their one album under the Ferrymen banner had the level of quality one would expect from a crew of such seasoned professionals, with Romero in particular seeming to seize every opportunity to work, though Karlsson and Terrana were smooth and proficient in equal measure.  It wasn’t the least bit surprising that this project didn’t last beyond a single album, since Karlsson was ostensibly a full-time member of Primal Fear and Romero had already gone on to front at least 3 other projects before the Ferrymen even put anything out.  Nonetheless, “The Last Ship” had its pleasures, being the work of consummate performers and craftsmen who seemed to genuinely love their line of work.

[butterflyintochains]

Hockey Names That Go Hard

Just a fun little post of some hockey player names that I think are really cool or fascinating.

Kristopher Pierre Joseph Irwin Letang - Tanger, one question, why so many middle names?

Erik Sven Gunnar Karlsson - Go off, viking king!

Oliver Oscar Emanuel Ekman-Larsson

Rickard Lars Gunnar Roland Rakell

Cal Clutterbuck

Nino Niederreiter

Zemgus Girgensons

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Jack St.Ivany - romance movie character much?

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Leon Draisaitl

Mirolsav Satan (yeah, I know it was shah-tahn, but it's still cool)

Rick Rypien (rest in peace, Rypper)

Andreas Athanasiou

Justin Abdelkader (originating from Arabic! Abdul-Qadir)

Jeff Beukeboom

Kevin Shattenkirk

Juraj Slafkovsky

Arber Xhekaj

Darius Kasparaitis

Slater Koekkoek

Ilya Kovalchuk

Alexander Ovechkin

Evgeni Malkin

Jack Studnicka

Rod Brind'Amor

Zach Whitecloud

Elias Fredrik Pettersson - if EK is a viking king, Petey is a viking prince

Teddy Blueger

Magnus Hellberg - love ya, Chopper!

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Elvis Merzlikins

Igor Shesterkin

Mika Zibanejad

Carter Verhaeghe

Shayne Ghostisbehere

Sergei Gonchar

Zach-Aston Reese

Thatcher Douglas Demko

Garnet Hathaway

Gabriel Landeskog - awesome name for a gorgeous man.

Sidney Patrick Crosby - Irish af and I love it sm.

Patrice Bergeron

Brad Marchand

Daniel Hans Sedin and Henrik Lars Sedin - my beloved super twins!

Zdeno Chara - brief, blunt, and fucking massive.

Andrew Mangiapane

Mats Zuccarello

Teuvo Teravainen

Sergei Bobrovsky

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Rasmus Ristolainen

Dustin Byfuglien - no idea how you get buff-lin from that, but oh well.

Joel Eriksson-Ek

Jonathan Huberdeau - also sounds like a hockey booktok mc.

Kailer Yamamoto

Dakota Joshua - my beloved

Evgeny Kuznetsov

Vincent Desharnais- welcome to Vancouver, Vinny!!

Taro Tsujimoto - if you know, you know!

Henri Jokiharju

Kasperi Kapanen - cat boy extraordinaire!

Jarome Iginla - I know he has like, a million, middle names but I'm not typing all that out.

Nils Hoglander - or, pardon me: Nils - Big Hog - Hoglander!!!

Jonathan Quick - sounds like a superhero!

Rob Klinkhammer

Anze Kopitar

Jaromir Jagr - a badass name for an equally badass man.

Bill Quackenbush

Jordin Tootoo

Jonathan Cheechoo

Radek Bonk, and his son, Oliver Bonk

Jonathan Lekkerimaki - our baby swede!

Gino Odjik - rest in peace, big man!

Ulf Niklas Alexander Edler - miss you, Eagle!! Please come home to us, dad!

Bowie Horvat - Take care of him, Islanders.

If anyone has any others, chuck them in the replies or reblogs!

[rockyoushow]

MAGNUS KARLSSON Announces New FREE FALL Album ‘Hunt The Flame’ Out April 14, 2023

MAGNUS KARLSSON Announces New FREE FALL Album ‘Hunt The Flame’ Out April 14, 2023 New Single & Video for the Title Track Featuring Alexander Strandell Out Now! Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to present the fourth installment of Magnus Karlsson’s Free Fall, ‘Hunt The Flame’ on April 14, 2023. Once again, the multi-talented Swedish guitarist/songwriter/producer has assembled a killer cast of…

[odinsson2021]

Here's the Playlist of my Tonight's Show!

I hope you liked it!

Stormwitch-Rondo ala Turca Zodiac Mindwarp&The Love Reaction-Prime Mover Y&T-Dance Dance Dance Winger-Voodoo Fire Wicked Sensation-My Turn to Fly Tora Tora-Son of a Prodigal Son Rose’n-Decide it Mr. Big-Green Tinted Sixties Mind Mötley Crüe-Don’t ga away Mad (Just go away) Atlantis Drive-Way Back When (Single) 12.04.24 Warrant-So Damn Pretty (Should be against the Law) Ten-Wait for you Zombeast-The Cycle – Heart of Darkness 17.05.24 Slaughter-Burning Bridges Slash-Doctor Alibi Anvil-Feed your Fantasy – One and Only 28.06.24 Tremonti-Now and Forever Transit-Suicide Queen Evergrey-Fallen from the Sun – Theories of Emptiness 07.06.24 Tragedian-Obsured Dreams Trance-Star Invaders Xandria-Universal (Single) 16.04.24 Tokyo-Blade-Devil's gonna bring you down Royal Hunt-End of the Line Elvellon-My Forever Endeavour – Ascending in Synergy 17.05.24 Magnus Karlsson’s Free Fall-Thunder Calls Manowar-Manowar March in Arms-Welcome the Blitz Blind Guardian-Mister Sandman

[intheupside]

who would survive on a deserted island (dkpitt)

Bryan Rust: I feel like Harkins probably could. He seems like a guy who would be climbing trees and cutting them down with his bare hands, maybe even chewing them down. I think he would do well.

Reilly Smith: I wouldn't say any of us! No, you know what? Harks. Harks could survive. He can probably find weird things to eat. He'd be sufficient at just getting by.

Jansen Harkins: Ned. He just seems resourceful, and I feel like he could just chill. I don't think he needs too much.

Alex Nedeljkovic: Jars. He seems like an outdoorsy guy. Survivalist? I don't know if that's a real word.

P.O Joseph. Not Ned! I'm going to say Gravy. He's from the Maritimes, I feel like they know a little about the outdoors is my guess. On a serious note, I think Ned would definitely be someone that would be good at it, just his capacity of adjusting in places. He would be good at it.

Lars Eller: Sid. He seems to be going different ways about things, about a lot of things. He doesn't rely too much on new technology, let's just say that.

Jake Guentzel: Sid. He's just an outdoorsman, that's kind of his vibe. I'm sure he could find something to live off of.

Chad Ruhwedel: Sid or Carts, or myself. They seem like they could handle themselves in a tough situation. I think I would do OK.

Kris Letang: Sid, he lives in the middle of the woods.

Erik Karlsson: Sid. I just feel like he would be very creative and would probably figure out a way to sustain himself for as long as he needed.

Valtteri Puustinen: I would say Kopi (Joona Koppanen). He's the smartest guy, I think. He knows what he's doing. I think if I went with myself? I'm dying. But he's a smart guy.

Joona Koppanen: I'll take Carts. He has the wisdom and the dad strength.

Colin White: John Ludvig. I feel like he's pretty handy, he'd like the outdoors like that.

Drew O'Connor: Luds, probably. He seems like he would. Look at him! He seems like an animal, don't you think?

John Ludvig: I'm going to say Cookie (Noel Acciari). Cookie's a burly man, he can handle himself. I'm pretty sure he'd find a way to survive wherever he was. I'll go with him.

Noel Acciari: Rudy (Chad Ruhwedel). He has a military background with his dad, he just seems handy.

Marcus Pettersson: Rudy. I think he's pretty handy, he could make something out of nothing, make himself a good shelter. That's big, I think he could build a shelter. Raks is a good fisherman, but the problem is he's alone on that island. He doesn't touch the fish, he hates touching the fish. He doesn't do it. So it'd be a problem, he'd need somebody with him.

Jonathan Gruden: I feel like Petey (Marcus Pettersson) would be good, just being around him for a little bit. He's pretty good, he could work his way around it and survive. Not OC. But P.O could maybe survive too. (Me: Half the team picked P.O for who couldn't survive.) I've got P.O's back! Maybe he's fooling me.

Magnus Hellberg: Can I pick myself? I'm really big into the outdoors and hiking, hunting, fishing. I think I've watched every season of Alone and all those survival shows. I like to be out in nature. When I think about all the guys, I feel like I'm the most nerdy with that stuff, spend a lot of time on the water. I would say myself, but in a humble way.

Rickard Rakell: I think Sid would do pretty well. I feel like he lives out in nowhere over the summer.

Sidney Crosby: I think I'd say Ricky (Rakell). He's pretty chill, I think he's got some survival instincts. He's got the tools.

Ryan Graves: Maybe Jars, I feel like he's outdoorsy.

Jesse Puljujarvi: Maybe Jarry. I heard he stays on a farm? So that's why.

Tristan Jarry: Tanger. He'd find someone to come pick him up.

[beardedmrbean]

Official observations of Finland’s 106th Independence Day began at 9am Wednesday with a flag-raising ceremony on Tähtitorni Hill in Helsinki's Ullanlinna district.

Hoisting the Finnish flag in bright, cold weather were members of a YMCA scout troop from Rastila, eastern Helsinki, accompanied with singing by the Viipurin Lauluveikot. The male choir was founded in 1897 in Vyborg, which is now part of Russia.

Delivering a speech at this year’s flag ceremony was Speaker of Parliament Jussi Halla-aho (Finns).

Independence Day commemorates December 6, 1917, when the Finnish Parliament approved a declaration of independence from Russia that had been issued by the Senate. Finland had been a Grand Duchy under the Russian Empire since 1809. The Senate was led by Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, who became the republic’s third president in the 1930s.

At 10.30, President Sauli Niinistö laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Helsinki's Hietaniemi Cemetery, followed by Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) and the Defence Forces Commander, Gen. Timo Kivinen.

The annual Independence Day parade began in Oulu at noon, organised by the Finnish Army's Kainuu Brigade, which is based in Kajaani.

The parade view from the Raatti Stadium and the march past the Merikoski Bridges at 1pm were broadcast live on Yle channels, while a compilation of the highlights shown later.

Disruption at ecumenical service

Niinistö also took part in a traditional ecumenical service at Helsinki's Lutheran Cathedral at noon. The Lutheran Bishop of Oulu, Jukka Keskitalo, delivered the sermon, and a prayer was read in the indigenous North Sámi language.

Pastor Kari Kanala said in a social media post that the service was briefly disrupted by some attendees seated in an upper loft.

"Palestinian flags, a peace song, etc. I don't know what to think. In any case, we are here praying for peace anyway," he posted on X, adding that the disturbance only lasted for about a minute.

Helsinki Police Chief Commissioner Patrik Karlsson confirmed the incident to Yle. He said that 10 people participated in the protest, dropping two banners expressing support for Palestine from the loft. Police removed two people from the event, telling them they could continue their demonstration outdoors.

Police said they have received notifications of four other demonstrations later in the day, including two that were scheduled to begin at 4pm. A traditional university students' torchlight procession was to begin an hour later.

Sibelius and a TV gala

Beginning at 3pm, the Radio Symphony Orchestra offered an Independence Day concert from the Helsinki Music Centre. Featuring works by Finnish composers Magnus Lindberg, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jean Sibelius, was broadcast live on Yle Teema and Areena, and at 7pm on Yle Radio 1.

The day culminates in the annual ball at the Presidential Palace, which starts at 7pm.

Niinistö and his spouse, Jenni Haukio, host the reception for the 10th and final time. They have hosted it annually since he took office in 2012 except in 2020-21, when it was cancelled due to the pandemic, replaced by modest virtual events. In 2013, the event was held in Tampere as the Presidential Palace was under renovation.

Voting for Niinistö’s successor begins just over a month from now.

The TV and online broadcast of the gala is typically Finland's most-watched media event of the year, sometimes attracting more than 2.5 million viewers.