Photo: Bildbyrån
His father played almost 500 games for Färjestad and became Swedish champion in the 2010/2011 season.
Now 18-year-old Jack is following in father Christian Berglund’s footsteps – but still in his own way.
– He has always been on my side and even if I go my own way, he has always supported me, Jack tells Expressen.
Christian Berglund44, had a fine career in the SHL, the hockey Allsvenskan, the Swiss NLA and in the NHL. During his three years in North America, he played games for the New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers, as well as their farm teams. In Switzerland he spent five years. But it was above all in his beloved Värmland that he came into his own. Nine seasons in the top league with Färjestad and a total of 233 points before his career ended in BIK Karlskoga.
Compared to his father
Now it is a new generation that resides in Löfbergs Arena. During his first years of life lived Jack Berglund18, in Switzerland, but when he was five the family moved home to Karlstad. His father was back in FBK. The same club that Jack himself now plays in.
– It is a dream come true. This is the club I’ve supported my whole life and to be a part of it is really cool. It’s almost a little surreal. I’m just trying to enjoy it. It’s great fun that the management believes in me and I just try to take my time and do the job every day, he says to Expressen.
Already last year Jack had the chance to debut for Färjestad, he scored directly against Skellefteå. This year he has been given a rookie contract and is training and playing with the A team, but occasionally plays some matches with the J20 team as well. Of course, he is compared a lot to his father. It is inevitable. But also nothing that bothers Jack.
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– My father has been my biggest idol throughout my upbringing. He has helped me a lot along the way. He has done the same trip and that means I always have someone to ask for tips and such. He has always been by my side and even though I go my own way, he has always supported me. I always know where he is. It has been important to me, he says.
Drafted last summer
This summer he went in the second round of the NHL draft, to the Philadelphia Flyers, as number 51 overall. 26 years earlier, father Christian went to the New Jersey Devils as number 37.
– Me, the sister and the father were there. It was an awesome experience and a dream come true. It was almost a bit surreal, but it’s starting to sink in a bit now. It was crazy fun, he says.
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Right now, Jack spends a lot of time in the gym with the team’s physical trainers Richard Kalenius. They work focused on Jack putting on a few kilos of muscle and getting faster at the same time, which can be a complicated equation to put together. While he spends a lot of time training and playing matches, he tries to continue with his high school studies and finish school.
He has the future ahead of him, the only 18-year-old Jack Berglund. Best of luck with your hockey career.
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