How “Swede” it is

Sitting down with Kristoffer Brun for just a few minutes gives you a great feel for who he is as a person.

The Swede doesn’t shy away from the attention, but he doesn’t seek it either. He can crack a smile, break the tension of an initial encounter and make you feel like a friend.

A lot of athletes can be stone faced at first, and even a little bland. That isn’t Brun.

When you bring up the Oswego State defenseman to someone who knows him, you get the same reaction.

They smirk.

“He’s something.”

Brun came over to the United States from Stockholm four years ago to play junior hockey, which led him to South Dakota. But Brun had one thing on his mind: playing college hockey.

While Brun is a good player for the Lakers on the ice, it’s who he is off the ice, that stands out.

Talking to Brun, it’s clear what the biggest difference between America and Sweden is: food.

When he’s in Sweden, he wants American food. When he’s in the States, he wishes he had Swedish cuisine.

Food is always the first thing Brun brings up when asked about the cultural difference. Other than that, he’ll tell you he’s adjusted pretty well.

Brun’s teammate and roommate, fellow sophomore Cameron Berry agrees he’s adjusted to America. But sometimes, he can still struggle with a few things.

“He was saying something and he ended up saying ‘butyetthough,’” Berry said, “like instead of just using one of those words and continuing, he used all three together.”

It’s those things that add to Brun’s charm.

For the most part, everyone else agrees. While Brun fits in well with American culture, there is one thing that makes him stand out.

“He always looks like he’s dressed for a photo shoot, even when he’s casual,” said assistant coach Mark Digby.

His fashion sense has become his trademark, it’s something most people bring up when talking about him.

The sophomore is aware his wardrobe is something others notice, but to him it’s normal. Berry says Brun’s style makes him stand out as European.

Fashion and food help define who he is as a person, a fun-loving and easy going guy. He’s always looking for a laugh.

“We’d be walking to class, and he’d talk in half Swedish, half English to get the reaction from different people when we walk by them,” said Berry.

Brun did this knowing full well what he was doing. He just likes to goof around.

Being goofy and easy going are two traits that naturally make him a social butterfly. Berry describes Brun as a ‘chameleon,’ as he’s able to talk to anyone about anything. Digby says he’s outgoing, but not in an annoying way. He’s a guy who just likes to have fun.

Brun also has a hidden talent. He’s proficient at card tricks. Berry has seen him do the same trick several times, and hasn’t been able to figure it out. While Berry couldn’t accurately describe it, he said it was similar to this card trick performed by Chris Pratt.

Brun’s personality leads to him being a good guy for a locker room. The infectious personality is important for team chemistry.

“He’s kind of the cruise director of the team,” said Digby.

This is where the ‘chameleon’ comment comes into play. Berry said Brun can talk Toronto sports with one of the guys from Ontario, then turn around and talk about a financial article he read online to one of the business majors.

It’s important to have those personalities in the locker room, and it helps when they’re a puck mover and can win battles in the corner.

Four of the twelve seniors graduating from this year’s Laker team are defensemen. This will expand Brun’s role on the team, and he should fill it well.

He is the Lakers first European player, but he has potentially opened the door for others from overseas to come to Oswego. Digby said other Europeans can now see Brun has done it and may feel more comfortable making the move themselves.

“Just based on his personality alone, I wouldn’t have any questions talking to a Swedish kid,” said Digby.

Brun isn’t intentionally breaking down barriers. He’s just being himself, welcoming and friendly.