Gustav Forsling

Gustav Forsling has become known for his defensive play against the NHL’s leading forwardsArticle in SVT SportRead the sourceArticle in SportbladetRead the sourceArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceArticle in SVT SportRead the sourceClose. Gustav ForslingArticle in AftonbladetRead the sourceArticle in Linköping HCRead the sourceClose grew up in Ljungsbro near Linköping and began playing hockey at 7, as he recalled in a 2016 club interview. He also played football and took part in athletics, but focused on hockey from the age of 13Article in Linköping HCRead the sourceClose. Linköping HC was his formative club, where he progressed through youth teams, a hockeygymnasiumA Swedish hockeygymnasium combines upper-secondary (high school) studies with scheduled ice hockey training.Article in Linköping HCRead the sourceClose combining upper-secondary studies with hockey training, and junior teams.

Defense was not his first choiceArticle in Linköping HCRead the sourceClose: in the 2016 interview, Forsling said he had originally wanted to be a goalie and had idolized Fredrik Norrena. He later played forward before youth coach Rickard “Lillis”Article in Linköping HCRead the sourceClose Johansson suggested moving to defense.

In a December 2014Article in AftonbladetRead the sourceClose interview with Sportbladet, Forsling recalled shooting practice at home in Ljungsbro: after his shots damaged the garage door, the family built a shooting ramp on the turning area outside. In the same interview, he described how Magnus Johansson, first his idol and later his teammate, helped him make decisions with the puck and create more time on the iceArticle in AftonbladetRead the sourceClose.

In a May 2019 interview with Linköping HCArticle in Linköping HCRead the sourceClose, Forsling recalled watching LHC with his close friend Carl Dahlström. He also spoke about his summer visits and said Linköping would always be home to himArticle in Linköping HCRead the sourceClose.

For his hometown celebration in 2024, Forsling returned to Saab ArenaArticle in NHLPARead the sourceClose and met Linköping supporters. In an NHLPA interview that August, he said the day also included a helicopter tour and eating cinnamon rolls from the Cup with his motherArticle in NHLPARead the sourceClose.