Wednesday January 25, 2012

Augusta, Ga--For many traveling half way around the world at the age of 23 to do anything can be intimidating. To find out you have to go home because of a snafu with immigration paper work can really take its toll. Welcome to the world of goalie Peter Skoggard.

Skoggard hails from Sweden and just a few games into the SPHL season, he was notified there were problems with his paper work and he had to head home. It took six weeks to get it squared away

"What happened was when I came over I got the paper work for a Canadian guy." said Peter Skoggard "So what I had to do was go to the embassy in Stockholm (Sweden) So I had to go back and apply for a new P1 and go back again. It takes weeks. It was just paperwork. Just the immigration is harder in the United States, I don't know, it's just the way it goes."

Skoggard was expected to be the top goalie for the Hawks and is just now getting back to where he needs to be. He lost his first two games after he returned, but has picked it up winning three of his last four starts. When you sit idle for six weeks like he did, it takes some time to get back in the groove.

"Naturally if you've been off for a month or more, it's going to take some time to get your conditioning back and a feel for the puck" said coach Brad Ralph "Peter, he's a solid goalie, it doesn't take him long to get back into the swing of things."

Skoggard was never really worried about getting things taken care of, it was just frustrating to be missing the playing time. The 23 year old still has a bright future and has been splitting time with Jon Olthius since his return. Those two may be the best goalie tandem in the league. Hawks back on the road Saturday night in Huntsville.