Erik Karlsson

Erik Karlsson has made his name through his offensive play as a defenseman and his fast skatingArticle in SportbladetRead the sourceArticle in Sveriges RadioRead the sourceArticle in SVT SportRead the sourceClose. Erik KarlssonArticle in TV4Read the sourceClose grew up in Landsbro, Småland, with Boro-Vetlanda as his formative hockey club. In an interview published by TV4/TT in 2024Article in TV4Read the sourceClose, he recalled how readily available ice had been there. Sportbladet’s portrait from the 2016 World CupArticle in AftonbladetRead the sourceClose period described a childhood in which his father Jonas coached his youth team and he played football in summer alongside winter hockey until the age of 15.

At 16, Karlsson moved from Småland to Södertälje with Oscar Holst to attend a hockeygymnasiumA Swedish hockeygymnasium combines upper-secondary (high school) studies with scheduled ice hockey training.Article in AftonbladetRead the sourceClose, combining upper-secondary studies with hockey training. According to the same portrait, he attended Vackstanäs boarding school in 2006/07Article in AftonbladetRead the sourceClose. Emil OlsénArticle in AftonbladetRead the sourceClose later recruited him to Frölunda.

Karlsson first chose number 65Article in SportsnetRead the sourceClose at Frölunda, he recalled in an older Sportsnet interview. He explained that the number referred to 1965Article in SportsnetRead the sourceClose, the year both his parents were born.

In another older Sportsnet interview, Karlsson described golf as a way to spend time with friends, naming golfer Brad FritschArticle in SportsnetRead the sourceClose among them. In the same interview, he also discussed his interest in fashionArticle in SportsnetRead the sourceClose.

On 31 August 2016Article in SVT NyheterRead the sourceClose, Karlsson trained with the Boro club and signed autographs at Boro-hallen. That OctoberArticle in Sveriges Radio P4 JönköpingRead the sourceClose, Sveriges Radio reported, citing the club’s website, that he had donated 75,000 Swedish kronor to Boro Vetlanda and that his father Jonas had delivered the check.