William Carlson on family life and semi-finals tonight
Summerlin, Nevada. William Carlson just so happens to shrug and claim it’s just “go out and honker and drive.”
But really, there are few who play hockey as sublimely as their favorite Swedish coach in the neon glow of Las Vegas Boulevard.
– Jojo, it’s not like I have big hands, so I have to try to be a little clever sometimes, says the new dad with a happy smile when Sportbladet visits the cool Summerlin’s practice arena ahead of the Golden Knights conference final against the Dallas Stars.
When you ask, you get answers, as the saying goes, and it’s probably no surprise that a gamer like William Karlsson doesn’t automatically launch into long explanations about all the ins and outs of the game when faced with questions about why this or that. event – and how it should recur or be avoided in the future.
But the truth is, Wild Bill in particular isn’t content with “honking and driving” or content with “fighting”.
All coaches love him and do so because he is gifted with an exceptional sense of play which he uses not least to neutralize opponents’ most dangerous attacking threats.
There are many dangerous players.
In the just-concluded second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, for example, he was pitted nonstop against Conor McDavid, the best player in the world—and wasn’t on the ice to score a single goal behind his back in five games.
No wonder current coach Bruce Cassidy doesn’t even hesitate to liken William to former pupil Patrice Bergeron – five-time winner of the Silk Cup, the league’s annual award for best defensive forward.
However, when we bring up that comparison after a workout in Summerlin’s fancy gym—a veritable mirage in the desert west of Las Vegas—the 30-year-old from Marsta feels a little awkward.
– Well, you can’t say that I’m at that level, he says.
But he’s not content with driving when he’s now trying to help the Golden Knights reach their second Stanley Cup Finals, and he’s still allowed to admit it after a bit of convincing.
– In a sense, I still think it was just a matter of going out and fighting like we’ve done so far, it worked, he says with a smile.
– But of course, you also have to think about it, keep track of who is on the ice and realize the opponent’s strengths. There are a lot of good and dangerous players in this league.
“so sweet”
Wille at the same time believes that a well-developed eye for what happens on the ice, now at a reckless pace, was essential throughout the character.
– It’s not like I have great hands, so I have to try to be a little clever sometimes. It happened early on, the mind of the game has always been one of my main strengths, he says and rushes to the bathroom so he can get home for ten minutes from the training room as soon as possible.
Something more valuable awaits him there than the legendary trophy he’s chasing across the ice.
Sonnen Beckham.
As we told you before, between Games 4 and 5 of the Knights’ series against the Edmonton Oilers, William and his wife, Emily, became parents for the first time—and since the Knights decided on the same series, Dad had the opportunity to spend more time with the new family member.
– The boy is very cute. He must have gotten that from me, smiling.
– Well, it’s really cool. Life changed completely all at once, and suddenly there was a new little person to love.
Beckham is definitely happy with her. He’s got a dad who’s smart as a book and doesn’t just honk and drive…
The first conference final between Vegas and Dallas will be played tonight. A puck disc was released at 02.30 Swedish time.