Skip to Main Content
Short Shifts

Incredible hockey game in Norway goes 8 overtimes

Playoff game between Storhamar and Sparta Warriors sets record for longest contest

NHL.com @NHLdotcom

The game went on so long, you have to imagine that even the losing team was just happy it was over.

Storhamar defeated Sparta Warriors 2-1 in an eight overtime game on Sunday in Norway. Joakim Jensen finally ended the marathon with a goal with 2:46 remaming in the 11th period.

You read that correctly. Eight overtimes.

Storhamar outshot Sparta 96-93 in the game. So, nice job by both goaltenders, in other words. How'd you like to make 94 save and lose?

Tweet from @A_Kalnins: Did you feel like it was possible to take the game? Daniel: We did have food and drinks during the breaks.

The game went on for roughly eight and a half hours, a new record for longest hockey game ever played. It featured 217 minutes and 14 seconds of play. The previous record was set in 1936, a game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Maroons (176 minutes, 30 seconds).

Tweet from @A_Kalnins: 217 min and 14 sec is the new world record in a hockey game.

The game took so long, the local police had to put out two tweets that loosely translated to their department getting several calls about missing persons who were last seen at the game, only for the cops to tell the callers the game had not ended yet.

There were roughly 1,100 fans in attendance for the end of the game, according to the Sparta Warriors Facebook page, which broadcasted the game live. Listed attendance on the scoresheet was 5,526.

Sparta player Daniel Ohrn told a reporter that while playing all those overtimes, his "body said no" but his mind made him keep going.

Tweet from @A_Kalnins: How is the team feeling after a such game? The team is tired. Daniel told me that body said no, but his mind just made him keep going.

But the kicker?

That was only Game 5 of a 7 game series in the GET-ligaen quarterfinals. Storhamar's win gave them a 3-2 series lead.

The two teams will somehow play Game 6 on Tuesday night.

View More