PHOTO: Bildbyrån
World Cup games now, a mini-World Cup next year and the Olympics in 2026.
Fullback Erik Karlsson, 33, is enjoying his national team comeback and being part of Tre Kronor again.
– This is how it should be. It’s just a shame that we lost eight years, he says.
In his first national team tournament since 2016, “The world’s best Karlsson” has shown his qualities and a tangible joy of playing.
Karlsson about the WC
It has stood out to many in Tre Kronor’s WC team so far during the three opening victories. Before Thursday’s match against Kazakhstan, the Pittsburgh defender is Sweden’s best scorer with three hits and leads the internal scoring league with five points.
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But he sees potential for improvement.
– We have played well so that has of course helped. We can only hope that we can build further, but it can all get better, says Tre Kronor’s team captain Erik Karlsson about his own game.
What could be better?
– To feel a little more comfortable out there, the more matches we get here, it becomes more automatic and you don’t have to think so much. There has been a bit of back and forth during the matches. There hasn’t been a match you’ve been able to last all 60 minutes yet, he thinks.
Back in Sweden
When the NHL announced in February that the league would once again be involved internationally, participate in the upcoming Olympics and organize a four-nation tournament, a kind of mini-World Cup, many in hockey rejoiced.
Just Karlsson’s latest national team tournament, World Cup 2016, is the latest “NHL tournament” at national team level. Both the 2018 and 2022 Olympics were played without NHL players.
– Regardless of which nation you come from, this is the most fun you can be a part of, he says.
Only Hedman left
A lot has happened during the years that Karlsson has been away from the national team. The back partner and good friend Victor Hedman are the only two remaining from the 2016 World Cup team. On the leadership side, everyone is new.
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So no wonder if it takes a few games for Tre Kronor to play together.
– That is of course one of the reasons that it is very new. The management staff and everything around has changed, so it’s nice to be here and see how everyone thinks and feels and that you get to know some people personally again, says Karlsson and continues:
– Those who were before had been around for many years. Then it was quite simple.
He appreciates being able to speak Swedish in the dressing room again.
– That has been missed. It’s the kind of thing you don’t get much of anymore, not at home either, the wife is from Canada, he says.
READ MORE: The Swedish WC star opens up about returning to the SHL – points out the club he wants to go to: “Had been a dream”
Tre Kronor was back on ice on Wednesday after a busy day on Tuesday. It was spent on the golf course.
Did it go well?
– Yes, depending on the conditions. I don’t play as much as I want. The last few years have been quite slow when the kids are so young, says the father of two.
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