Norwegian Family Enjoys "Fantastic" Experience in Pittsburgh

As the Penguins left the ice and departed the locker room following Thursday's morning skate at PPG Paints Arena, young August Storlien Sætrom eagerly awaited the chance to meet players from his favorite team.

P.O. Joseph stopped to chat with the 13-year-old and his family right after coming off the ice. When he came out of the locker room, Jason Zucker asked August if he could add any goals to the lineup.
But one of the most-anticipated meetings happened when Sidney Crosby came to greet August and his family, who came all the way from Lillehammer, Norway. He also signed a jersey for August, which read:
"To August, great meeting you! All the best. Your friend, Sidney Crosby."
Meeting his favorite player was the pinnacle of what's been an unforgettable week for August, who got the chance to come to town thanks to Make-A-Wish Norway. August and his father, mother and sister spent all week in Pittsburgh, enjoying Penguins wins over the Philadelphia Flyers and the Minnesota Wild.
"It's fantastic for us," said Synne Kristin Storlien, August's mother. "It's been a long way to here, with all the sickness and things we've been through. So this is a really great gift for us as a family."

August watched the first period of Sunday's contest from the Penguins radio booth with Josh Getzoff and Phil Bourque. His second intermission was spent with him and his father, Pål Helge Nordjordet Sætrom, each getting to ride on a Zamboni.
"[Getzoff and Bourque] were so welcoming from the minute we walked in the door to the broadcast booth," said Cindy Himes, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation's director of community/alumni relations. "It's so gratifying to see how everybody that's been involved in this, within the Penguins organization, has just gone out of their way to help make it wonderful for the family. It makes you proud to be a part of that organization."
After meeting and getting pictures with Crosby, August and his family joked that a new phone case will be necessary. His current one has a picture of him with Mats Zuccarello, the NHL's only active player from Norway and a member of the Wild, from back home.
But soon enough, the family also got to catch up with their fellow Norwegian after the Wild wrapped up their morning skate. After an extended conversation, Zuccarello brought August into the Minnesota locker room. Bill Guerin, who became Minnesota's general manager in 2019 after nearly a decade in Pittsburgh's front office following his retirement as a Penguin, presented August with a stick signed by Kirill Kaprizov.
"Put that in your carry-on," Guerin exclaimed.
August even got a visit from Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan. He stopped by to say hello, asking August if he'd like to play on Crosby's wing. Sullivan was immediately alerted that August was a good-luck charm, given that he'd been in attendance for the team's win on Sunday.
"If we win [Thursday], we'll have to bring you to Detroit," Sullivan said while laughing.
Following Pittsburgh's 4-1 victory, August still has a perfect record while watching his favorite team, and that will be maintained for now. Today, the family is heading to New York City, where they'll spend a handful of days before returning to Norway.
Himes said that they've had Make-A-Wish kids come from Canada over the years, but never anywhere as far as Norway. When Erica Thomas, the wish manager for Make-A-Wish of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia, brought the idea to Himes, she said they set it up "without hesitation."
"To be in a position to make somebody's wish come true is so unique," Himes said. "That isn't lost on me or my co-workers. I think we all realize what a unique position we're in, to be able to do that. It's priceless when you see the smiles on their faces, and you know that it's something that they might've dreamt of doing."
The family's extended stay in Pittsburgh also included stops at popular tourist attractions like Phipps Conservatory and the Duquesne Incline. Synne was stunned by the incline ride and how high up it took them.
"You don't like heights, eh?" Crosby asked her while laughing.
During some down time, which has been hard to come by for August and his family over the past few days, he opened some gifts. He was ecstatic about a Penguins mini stick, and Synne said that it could finally replace the Rangers one he got during a previous trip to New York.
Among other things, his gift bag contained a small Penguins-themed dish from Wendell August Forge. When Synne looked at the box containing the dish, she smiled and pointed to one word - "August."
Despite having spent time on both sides of the aisle Thursday morning, August stood firm on who he was rooting for come game time - the team that he's been a fan of since he was 5 years old.
"Penguins, of course," said August, who first became a fan of the team thanks to a friend who loved the Penguins - plus, the logo caught his eye.
On Thursday night, August enjoyed the game with his parents and sister, Mathea Storlien Sætrom, from Crosby's charity suite. Come puck drop, after a whirlwind of a morning and past few days, August was able to sit back and just enjoy the game.
"I think today has been a really great experience," Synne said. "He hasn't landed yet from this morning, and I don't think he will land until June maybe. We sent pictures to his friends, and they can't believe it."