okt 31, 2019
JÖNKÖPING – He is regarded as one of Sweden’s biggest hockey talents and is racking points in the junior team, but the A-team chance has not been missed for HV71’s promising forward Zion Nybeck. He tells HockeyNews.se, among other things, about goals, feelings for the draft and the pressure he has experienced.
– ”At the beginning of the season, I felt that I had to perform,” said the 17-year-old.
HV71’s Zion Nybeck walks into the lounge behind the stands of Kinnarps Arena. He sits down at a round table and peeks out the window where the sun is setting before we start talking.
Have you always been a big talent?
– ”I have always been that, but there was one called Gottfrid (Heinmert) in Alvesta. He was one year older, but I played with that team. He was a bigger talent at that time,” said Nybeck.
After racking up points in the parent club, Alvesta’s junior team, he made his debut for the A-team in division 2 already as a 14-year-old.
– :I had played one game in J20 and then it was directly up to the A-team. I wasn’t really prepared to get the chance so early. Now in retrospect, however, I think that I have had great benefit from those games. I’m pretty short but got to learn to play against bigger players early on,” he said.
Two years ago he left the parent club for HV71’s organization after being chased by virtually all hockey high schools in Sweden.
– ”It felt comfortable to choose HV71. They have great amenities all around and several good coaches at the hockey high school. Then I had a lot of friends here from TV-Pucken. It was a pretty simple choice” said Nybeck.
Do you have any role models?
– ”It’s been my brother for the most part. He (Chris Nybeck) was playing in Oskarshamn when I was growing up and also played in HV during high school. He is the one I’ve looked up to most,” he said.
Today, the 17-year-old is regarded as one of Sweden’s biggest hockey talents and the promising forward has started the season by recording 23 points in 14 games for HV71’s J20 team. Despite that, he has not yet gotten the chance to play in the SHL.
– ”It’s not something I really think about. I know the opportunity will come, I just have to wait and be prepared when I get it,” said Nybeck, who doesn’t even train with the A-team at the moment:
– ”I got to participate in the preseason down in Germany and think I did well then, but otherwise it hasn’t been more than that,” he said.
Have you gotten an explanation?
– ”No, they have just said that they have a lot of forwards right now,” said Nybeck.
”I’m always working to get there.”
As a junior, he got to win the World Championship gold with Småkronorna on home ice this past spring and when we start talking about it he starts to smile.
– ”It was absolutely incredible. Extra special to win at home in front of all the fans,” he said. ”We knew before the tournament that we had a very good team and we had beaten USA in Russia one month before. It felt good, but we had a heavy start to the tournament. When we beat Russia, we came together as a group and gained confidence. Everyone took on their roles.”
What does it mean to you to wear your national team jersey?
– ”It’s always just as cool, an honor. I always work hard to get there.”
Are you chasing a spot on the WJC roster this year?
– ”Hard to say right now. I have to get a chance with the A-team here first if I’m going to head to the WJC.”
The forward has taken great strides in his game since joining HV71, but the biggest development has taken place off the ice.
– ”I’ve become better at taking care of myself. I have been taught how to cook, sleep on time and take care of the body. These are important things to be able to succeed,” he said.
How does it work combining school with hockey?
– ”It works pretty well. Some days I may go a little earlier to catch up on training, but overall it is well managed and the club and the school have a great dialogue.”
Is school important for you?
– ”In the end it is, but that’s maybe not how I think of it now. Now it’s mostly hockey, but it’s clear that I have to do well in school too.”
”That’s what you dream of.”
Zion Nybeck has an important year ahead. In the coming summer he will be fielded in the NHL draft and according to the latest rankings he is expected to be selected as the nineteenth player overall.
– ”I don’t think very much about it. I just have to do my job here and now, but it’s clear that I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
Are you experiencing any pressure?
– ”At the beginning of the season I felt that I had to succeed, but now towards the end I feel that I’ve relaxed a lot more. I’ve realized that I have to focus on myself and what I’m good at. That’s when it will move forward.”
First and foremost, Zion Nybeck will have his breakthrough with HV71’s A-team. Then, after that, he has much higher goals in sight.
– ”I want to reach as far as possible and be able to live on the hockey. The aim is the NHL, so clearly that’s what you dream of,” he said.
Reporter: Mattias Persson
Photo: Mattas Persson / HockeyNew.se
HockeyNews.se
Full Article: ”Jag vet att chansen kommer komma”
okt 25, 2019
Defenseman Emil Andrae and forward Zion Nybeck have been chosen to represent Sweden U18 at the upcoming Five Nations Tournament in Sundsvall, taking place November 6-10.
Both Andrae and Nybeck are currently playing for HV71 J20. So far this season, Andrae has recorded 16 points in 14 games (3G, 13A), while Nybeck has racked up 23 points (9G, 14A).
The other countries partaking in the tournament include Switzerland, Finland, Czech Republic, and the United States. Sweden will play its first game on November 6 against Switzerland.
sep 23, 2019
After making his SHL debut just three days ago, net-minder Hugo Alnefelt has now signed a two-year contract with HV71 of the SHL.
”Hugo is an exceptional goalie talent with a calm and stability that is impressive,” said HV71 general manager Johan Hult. ”We look forward to seeing Hugo develop even more in H71 alongside William Rahm and the other goaltenders.”
To read more: Hugo Alnefelt signs contract with HV71
Photo: Bildbyrån
sep 23, 2019
TORONTO — It’s a mid-August afternoon in Stockholm and William Nylander’s cellphone is blowing up. At first he elects to ignore the buzzes and beeps. Then he halts an interview mid-thought to pick up the phone.
“Sorry,” he says, with a head shake. “It’s Rasmus Sandin.”
The future Toronto Maple Leafs teammates grew a lot closer this summer while participating in the same group skate. Sometimes Sandin would even stay with Nylander and his brother, Alex, and it was during those hard months of preparation where he started to see what has now become apparent to anyone watching Leafs training camp closely.
At age 19, Sandin is on the verge of a big breakthrough.
“He’s looking great,” said Nylander.
What’s most notable about this development is how natural it all looks and feels. To hear the other established Maple Leafs discuss Sandin’s play — heck, to listen to the way head coach Mike Babcock is unabashedly praising him — leaves the distinct impression he’s already part of the team.
We’ll get the next big indicator when the players remaining in training camp are split into ‘Leafs’ and ‘Marlies’ groups following Saturday’s visit to Buffalo, but don’t be surprised when Toronto’s 29th-overall pick from 2018 is still skating with the NHLers next week.
“This kid’s nasty,” said Auston Matthews. “I was really impressed with him last year, honestly. It’s fun getting out there with a guy like him because he can see the ice, he jumps in and is smart about when he jumps in on offence and when he doesn’t.
“Obviously breaking out of our own end, I mean, he sees it. He makes plays that not many people can.”
“All you’ve got to do is watch him,” said Babcock. “He’s smart, he knows how to play, he’s got a feel. He’s one of these guys it doesn’t seem to matter how old he is because his hockey sense is so good.”
Sandin’s ability to distribute from his own zone should be particularly useful on a team with the kind of high-end talent the Leafs have at forward. But there’s more to his game than that. He smartly positioned his five-foot-11 frame during a solid penalty-killing shift in Saturday’s 3-0 exhibition win over the Sabres and broke up a Buffalo rush in transition with a stick check that turned into a Matt Read goal.
He didn’t look remotely out of place in more than 20 minutes of work.
“I think he’s like that every night,” said Babcock. “He’s comfortable all the time. It doesn’t seem to matter what level he’s at.”
Sandin is looking to take another big leap up the ladder this fall, having already progressed from the Swedish under-20 league to the Ontario Hockey League to the American Hockey League over the last three years.
About the only thing that looks minor-league about him at this point is the No. 38 on the back of his sweater — a training camp handout he didn’t get any say in. The other Leafs have seized on to that fact in the dressing room, calling him “Colin” in reference to former Marlies captain Colin Greening, who donned those digits last year.
“He doesn’t like that,” said Andreas Johnsson, another member of the growing Sandin fan club.
“What is he, 19 or 20? It’s hard when you get up here first and you think everyone’s older. And then it’s like, ‘Yeah, he’s actually 19 and does all this stuff.’ His head is probably his best weapon. He’s so smart and wins every [battle] and always makes the best pass.”
Sandin’s got that quality you just can’t teach. He’s not big or imposing, but he never seems to panic or let the gravity of any moment get the best of him. He remembers feeling a little nervous before his first exhibition game with the Leafs last fall, but hasn’t experienced any of those butterflies the second time around.
Armed with emotional maturity, he’s come to camp ready to claim a job.
“If that happens, no one would be happier than me,” said Sandin.
Reporter: Chris Johnston / @reporterchris
SPORTSNET
Photo: Claus Andersen/Getty Images
jul 11, 2019
As of this past Tuesday, Alex Nylander is officially a Chicago Blackhawk.
The 21-year-old forward has been acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Finnish defenseman Henri Jokiharju. Nylander’s contract has an AAV of $863,333 and is signed through the 2020-21 season.
To read more: Blackhawks acquire Alexander Nylander
Photo: Twitter / @NHLBlackhawks
jul 8, 2019
Article – Summer read: ”I’m going to surprise a lot of people!”
Translation:
He has been with us since the beginning of May. For many, he is quite unknown, but if you believe Lucas Ekeståhl-Jonsson then there are many who will soon know who he is.
”I’m going to surprise a lot of people,” he said.
A Umeå guy who, via the Finnish league, will now make his SHL debut as a 23-year-old. And he’s a 23-year-old who knows what he can do.
”I have had two good seasons in Finland but felt that I was done there right now. I wanted to try something else, and when Färjestad came into the picture it became interesting right away. They play hockey that suits me, as I myself think I am good with the puck, have a good passing game and like to do it in good speed. I want to show that I’m a good hockey player and, in this way, take a big role here in Färjestad,” he said.
He has been in Karlstad since May and likes what he has seen so far.
”A very nice group of people, both players and leaders, who made it easy for me to get into the gang. Having my old friend Axel Ottosson here has of course helped.”
That he has now chosen to leave Turku and Finland for Färjestad is because he wants to take the next step in his career and develop.
”The game in Finland is very controlled. You gladly attack with all five players at the same time so there will be a lot of waiting before you then take off to start the same way again if you miss an opportunity. It gets pretty repetitive in the end. We had a good team in Turku and had material to go all the way, but it didn’t turn out that way. Really sour actually,” he said.
The feeling feels good again for all of us green-white, and Lucas Ekeståhl-Jonsson is here to help take the next step.
”Färjestad is one of the largest associations in Sweden that also always has the goal of going for the gold. It is good people who work around here and there are nice facilities. Now we just need to come together as a group as well.”
He has already seen the stubbornness that lies within the group.
”Everything is to be won. If we were to build towers with spaghetti, that should be won. That’s what sports are about – winning. It already feels that there are a lot of winners in this gang and I think it is very fun that it’s like that. Hockey is, in many ways, a fight one against one. You should be better than your guy on the ice and if you have that in you, that you compete for everything, then you have won a lot in the fight even on the ice,” he said.
Wikstrand and Virtanen gone – two defenseman that logged a lot of ice time. Is that something you’ve thought about?
”Yes, but that’s how it is. You always want good players to remain, but now it is what it is and that opens up opportunities for others to step up. I want to take a big role and want to perform well to get it done.”
That he himself has that feeling is fine enough. For many of us, Lucas Ekeståhl Jonsson is still a fairly unknown name.
Can you get a little triggered by that?
”Absolutely! I feel like that a little bit and I’m ready to show hockey fans who I am. There is quite a bit of media attraction in Allsvenskan where I previously played. Now that I am in SHL and Färjestad, I will do everything to make a nice impression here. My thought is that the loss of the players we mentioned earlier should not be so noticed,” said Ekeståhl-Jonsson.
There is no doubt whatsoever that it is an amped and excited player who has come to Färjestad. And he looks forward to making his debut in his new home.
”It will be a lot of fun to play in front of an audience who is so engaged in the game. In Finland, there is often be a lot of people at the games, but it is not at all the same fan culture as in Sweden. They sing a lot here and it is a completely different lifestyle, which you, as a player, appreciate enormously.”
Photo: Stefan Eriksson, Färjestad BK
