Börje Salming, Peter Forsberg and Jörgen Jönsson – Tre Kronor’s No. 21 jersey is the legendary number.
Icons like Nicklas Lidström and Henrik Zetterberg think the number should be scrapped.
Now it is worn by 18-year-old WC.
Leo Karlsson was named number 21 when he made his senior debut for Småkronorna in the Hlinka Cup nearly two years ago. A number he also wore during the JVM last winter.
When he debuted with Tre Kronor before the World Cup, he wore number 91, but when Los Angeles forward Karl Grundström joined the team he took over number 91 as he had more appearances on his record.
So in WC Leo Carlsson plays number 21.
– To be honest, I didn’t choose it. I’ve already played for the junior national team, says Carlson himself, and that’s probably why I got him now.
So it was the management of the national team that decided?
– Yes it was. I actually couldn’t choose for myself.
Who chose that?
– I venture into the material but I’m not sure, but it usually is.
“Lidas” and “Zäta” don’t want to use the number
It’s a special Tre Kronor number considering who wore it.
– Yes haha. truly. It’s cool to wear it of course, just thinking of whoever has it is cool.
Icons such as Nicklas Lidström and Henrik Zetterberg have said regarding the death of Börje Salming that they would like to see the number 21 retired at Tre Kronor, so that no one else can play in that particular jersey.
Does Leo Carlson also think that this should be done?
– Almost anyway. When you think of who has that number. Then I don’t know if you have to retire the numbers in the national team, I don’t have a good understanding of that. Those three are legendary, Leo Carlson says, well, I really don’t know.
What do you think when you are only 21?
– Now there will be pressure, I thought … No, it was just fun and an honor to have it.
They got rid of the figure when Grundström came up
Was there an idea to turn it down?
– No, it’s better to try to hold the number as much as possible.
How do you feel when playing Tre Kronor with 21?
– Full of glory, yes, really.
Anders Lundberg, national team manager, explains how it happened when Leo Carlsson was named No. 21:
– Leo played with the number 91 in the matches leading up to the World Cup, but when Grundstrom came in we go to international matches about who has ‘priority’ in the number. In this case, it was me who said he played with 21 in the junior national team and he takes that number now. We didn’t think much of the date because we don’t have any T-shirts on the roof, says Lundberg.
According to Ice Hockey Federation President Anders Larsson, retirement No. 21 is out of the question:
Our way of honoring the greatest players, referees and leaders is through the Swedish Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. We have not retired any jersey numbers yet and this issue is not currently on the agenda as we have the Hockey Hall of Fame instead.