New York. There was no holiday in Sweden for Matthias Ekholm this year.
But no tears were shed because of the rain in Dalarna.
Instead, he and his growing family got to know their new hometown of Edmonton well – while having the opportunity to prepare extraordinarily well for the season in which his team had just won the Stanley Cup.
– In that way, it was definitely one of the best summers ever. There’s nothing bad about Friskis & Svetis in Borlange, but there’s little difference between standing there on your own and running with excellent physical trainers at our fantastic facilities at Rogers Place, the 33-year-old Oilers defender tells Sportbladet as he tries to make his son Six-week-old Lyon sleeps.
And because they knew he – Leon, number three in a baby group that also includes William, 6, and Mia, 2 – would arrive, Matthias Ekholm and his wife Ida Bjornstad decided early on to stay in North America this summer.
– He arrived exactly six weeks ago. Everything went well and everyone is fine, the proud father says in a low voice as the little boy has just calmed down after some boisterous expressions of displeasure.
But the fact that the annual visit to Sweden was canceled also brought some additional bonuses.
Above all, Matthias, Ida and the children had the opportunity to adjust in their new home.
The thing was, after twelve years in Nashville, the stalwart defender from Dalarna was suddenly traded to Edmonton in March, and there he only had time to land until he ran into a Stanley Cup run that culminated just two months later, with a stinging loss to the eventual champions, the Vegas Golden Knights. In the second round of the qualifiers.
So there wasn’t much time to settle in.
– It’s one thing when you’re alone here. Then you have nothing but your backpack to think about. As for the family, the matter is completely different. The move came as a huge shock and the kids were a bit sad that they had to separate from their friends in Nashville, Mathias continues.
– But now we get to it and the kids are having a really good time and have really made some new friends.
“No more summer…”
And at this point, things went much easier than they did in Nashville.
Yes, compared to the south, Canada, or at least Edmonton, is more like Sweden. Kids on the street playing in the neighborhood, just like you were a kid. Not so in Nashville, but William already has many friends in the neighborhood that he runs to all the time, or they run here. It feels so good.
But you missed Sweden a bit, didn’t you?
– Yes, of course we miss Sweden. Although we have now heard that there is no more summer…
no. Borlange, where I also spend parts of the summer, had nine hours of sunshine in July. The worst in the country.
– Haha, it’s like a day with the sun. Sorry, you know you can do without that. But the thing is, we got more time as a family because we stayed here. When you come home to Sweden, it becomes very tense as all the places you are going to visit and everyone gathers together to meet. Even before you land, you already know what you have to do each weekend.
Gutak…
– Now we’ve had such a good time as a family, and for the most part we’ve managed to take the day as it comes. For example, last Saturday we woke up with no idea what to do and stayed together here in the house all day. It was very nice.
Everyone’s goal: to win
During the long Canadian summer, “Ike”, as he is known in North America, had better chances than usual to prepare for next season with the Edmonton Oilers.
– Yes, in that way it was definitely one of the best summers ever. There’s nothing bad about Friskis & Svetis in Borlange, but there’s little difference between standing there on your own and jogging with excellent physical trainers in the fantastic facilities at our venue here, Rogers Place. Just being able to work with the physical trainers who’ve been around all summer has been a real rejuvenation for me, and I’m really excited now.
Which is fitting, because what lies ahead in hockey-crazy Alberta this fall, winter, and spring is a now-or-never race.
Led by superstars Connor McDavid – who actually begins his ninth season in the NHL in October – and Leon Drycitel, the Oilers should win the Stanley Cup now.
There is nothing else.
– no. Matthias agrees. Everyone, from those selling hot dogs to the owner and general manager, got in on it.
The goal is really to win. Of course, it seems very inspiring for a 33-year-old who came close to winning above all things once but has yet to win. But I also think there is reason for optimism. We have a team that should be able to go further.
“stings and devours”
Yes, he wasn’t too far from reaching future champions last spring.
It turned around in one period in the last game… It was painful and inspiring. We know we are there.
Now I’ve started snowboarding too, I guess?
– Yes, there are seven or eight of us from the team who have been together for a while.
Is McDavid leading practices? There has been something about it in the local press.
No, he hasn’t come to town yet, but in a week or so I think he will and by then maybe over 90 per cent of the squad. He’s the one who started this as the whole team trains together before camp starts, and he’s been doing it this way for a few years now. It will be fun to be a part of it.
Leon has now woken up and looks like a bitch again. Perhaps he is unhappy that he has not yet been able to see the homeland of mom and dad. But if they get what they want, it will take some time.
– The plan is that we won’t go to Sweden until the end of June, Matthias said.
He said shortly:
He will win the Stanley Cup first.