USA Bandy has a long tradition of US players, both men and women, playing a season overseas for  Swedish, Norwegian and even Finnish bandy teams. The latest is US national team goaltender, Zack Wynne, who played keeper for Swedish bandy club "Ostersunds" in the 2019-20 season.  There is no question that the US players who have skated a season or more overseas improve as bandy players, both in their skill and their understanding of the game. There is also the huge added benefit of the cultural experience they have living and playing in a foreign country, as well as the lifelong friendships that they form with their teammates and people within the community. The experience has also been a big positive for the club and the community the US men and women play for. In addition, one US bandy player, Tom Howard, became head coach for the Swedish team, The Surte Wildcats, in the 2015-16 season. He is the first US bred bandy player to coach an overseas team

 

The List of Firsts for US Bandy players playing for overseas teams:

1983-84: First US skater to play for Swedish team-Chris Middlebrook for Skovde BK

1983-84: First US Goalkeeper to play for Swedish team-Jeff Johnson for Vanersborg

1985-86: First US skater to play for Swedish Elite Team-Dave Reichel for Edsbyn

1985-86: First pure professional bandy player in Sweden/The World-Chris Middlebrook for Harnosand AIK

1987-88: First US woman skater to play for Swedish team-Karen Jamison for Gota

1995-96: First US skater to play for Norwegian team-Rick Haney for Ready

2011-12: First US skater to play for Finnish team-Emil Furcht for Naukera

2011-12: First US skater in modern era to play for Swedish Elite Team-Daren Richardson for Vetlanda

The complete list of US skaters and goalies who have played at least one season for overseas teams:

 

Swedish Teams

1983-84: Chris Middlebrook-Skovde BK

1983-84: Jeff Johnson-Vanersborg

1983-84: Steve Swenson-Tellus

1985-86: Chris Middlebrook-Harnosand

1985-86: Tom Howard-Grangesberg

1985-87: Dave Reichel-Edsbyn

1986-87: Dave Harmon-Katrineholm

1987-88: Michael Blessing-Orebro

1987-88: Chris Halden-Lidkoping

1987-88: Bill Wood-Sunds BK

1987-88: Paul Lundeen-Sunds BK

1987-88: Tom Howard-Sunvara

1987-95: Karen Jamison-Gota Women

1990-91: Carol Adelman-Gota Women

1990-91: Lisa Kallberg-Gota Women

1990-91: Kendra Verbeten-Uppsala Women

1990-91: Win Mitchell-Skiro

1991-92: Mark Perrault-Essinge

1993-94: Rick Haney-Orebro

1995-96: Eric Kyllonen-Kungalv

1995-96: Tom Howard-Sunvara

1995-96: Wes Caple-Skiro

1997-98: John Jensen-Tillberga

2003-05: Chris Preiss-Ojaby

2006-07: Scott Arundel-Unik

2007-08: John Arundel-Helenelund

2007-08: Mike Hosfield-Helenelund

2007-08: Jon Keseley-Helenelund

2007-08: Eric Kraska-Helenelund

2007-08: Daren Richardson-Atavidaberg

2008-11: Daren Richardson-Jonkoping

2008-09: Kristy Wynn-AIK Women

2009-10: Dave Plaunt-Jonkoping

2009-10: Brent Palmer-Nassjo

2011-14: Daren Richardson-Vetlanda

2012-13: Ian Middlebrook-Skiro

2014-15: Wyatt Wenzel-Ojaby

2014-20: Daren Richardson-Jonkoping

2015-16: Mikael Lickteig-Surte

2019-20: Zack Wynne-Ostersund

Norwegian Teams

 

1995-97: Rick Haney-Ready

1996-2002: Wes Caple-Ready

1997-98: Chris Halden-Hamar

2001-02: Ron Kuzara-Ready

2001-02: Jason Daniels-Ready

2016-17:Mikael Lickteig-Hamar

 

 

Finnish Teams:

 

2011-12: Emil Furcht-Naukera-winner of Finnish championship

 

Coach of a Swedish Team

 

2015- present: Tom Howard-Surte Wildcats