Flyers’ Samuel Ersson honored to represent Sweden at 4 Nations Face-Off
This story originally appeared on hockeysverige.se and has been translated from Swedish to English.
One man’s misfortune… well, you know how the saying goes.
When Jacob Markström had to back out due to injury, Tre Kronor found themselves searching for a replacement for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
In the end, they turned to Philadelphia Flyers’ netminder, Sam Ersson.
“I spoke with (Swedish GM) Josef Boumedienne. We know each other from my time in Brynäs and the relegation rounds. He reached out and gave me a little heads-up. ‘We’ll see what happens, but you’re in consideration,'” Ersson said. “When it became clear that ‘Marky’ wouldn’t be available… First and foremost, I feel really bad for Jacob. He’s had an incredible season. At the same time, I’m excited to get this opportunity. It’s a huge honor to be part of a tournament where the best players in the world are competing.”
After initially not being named to the team, Ersson was happy to get the call. The other two Swedish goaltenders in the 4 Nations Face-Off are Linus Ullmark and Filip Gustavsson, so it’s unlikely Ersson will get the call. But with NHLers headed to the 2026 Winter Olympics, being included still means a lot for the young Swede.
“You never really know what will happen. I knew I was somewhat in the mix, but it wasn’t something I put too much energy into. Of course, it’s always a goal to be part of national team tournaments. It’s a bit of a motivation, hoping to get the call. But in the end, the focus has to be on your team, performing well there first, and then seeing what happens.”
The 25-year-old has played 31 games for the Flyers this season, establishing himself as the team’s No. 1 goalie.
“This season has been a bit up and down. I’ve dealt with some injuries, so it’s been a bit inconsistent,” Ersson said. “Overall, though, I’m happy with how I’ve played. There was a rough stretch before Christmas after coming back from a longer injury absence, but beyond that, I think things have gone well.”
If Ersson doesn’t play, he’ll be out of game action for about two weeks. That can be both a positive and a negative. But being part of a team full of NHL stars in Montreal and Boston is something Ersson is looking forward to.
“It’s a huge challenge for everyone,” Ersson said with a laugh. “The caliber of players in this tournament is incredibly high. I don’t have many expectations; I’m just going in with an open mind. Mostly, I’m just really looking forward to experiencing a tournament like this.”
Ersson won’t be the only Flyer in the tournament. Travis Sanheim and Travis Konecny will play for Canada, while John Tortorella will be one of USA’s coaches.
“I think we all recognize what a great honor it is to be part of this,” Ersson said. “This is a tournament that has been talked about in the hockey world for a long time. Players and fans alike have been eager to see international competition at this level again. To get the chance to be part of it is something special.”