PHOTO: Bildbyrån + TT Nyhetsbyrån
Last night Leo Carlsson wrote Swedish sports history.
When he was selected number two in the NHL draft.
But now the huge drama that threatened everything is revealed.
The eyes of the hockey world were on Nashville last night for the annual NHL draft. First of all was of course the super talent Connor Bedard chosen but the name after that came as a great shock to everyone.
Carlsson second
The NHL team Anaheim Ducks chose Swede Leo Carlson, so high has no forethought placed him. The 18-year-old was present in Nashville and received a big cheer when he pulled on the Ducks jersey and was introduced by his new NHL team.
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Carlsson had father Kenneth, mother Camilla and his older brother Kasper with him and together the family was involved in a most unexpected drama in the USA. Because when the family flew to New York to make a stopover, serious flight problems arose.
READ MORE: The great tributes to Leo Carlsson in North America – point out the strong detail after the draft success
Unexpected drama
The connecting flight to Nashville was canceled and thus Leo Carlsson risked missing the entire NHL draft.
– It was bad weather, thunder and such, the 18-year-old explains to Sportsnet in the live broadcast.
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Then father Carlsson had a stroke of genius and acted immediately to save his son. Instead of flying, it was a rental car for the last 140 miles (!) to the NHL draft. The family got into a car and drove for 13 hours to get there.
– I got a little tired at the airport. We had a long line, so we realized we wouldn’t be on time otherwise. I found out that we could rent a van, so I brought my eldest son Kasper and arranged the rental and such. I drove most of the distance, but shared with Kasper and Camilla some so it went well, says Kenneth Carlsson to SVT Sport.
READ MORE: Leif Boork’s clear criticism after the great promise Leo Carlsson did the “forbidden” in the hockey World Cup: “Damn nonsense”
“Pretty tough”
For Leo Carlsson, it was not particularly difficult, but he could relax while the rest of the family pulled the heavy load.
– It was quite simple for me, it was just to sleep. But for my father, brother and mother it was probably quite tough, I think. Drive two hours and then hand over to the next man, explains the 18-year-old.
The Swedish big talent, who currently belongs to Örebro in the SHL, was also asked if the Anaheim Ducks were worried and got in touch.
– No, they didn’t, he says with a smile.
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