Almtuna’s talent is historic against Östersund
UPPSALA/STOCKHOLM. Almtuna’s Filip Ekberg, 15, became the youngest goalscorer of all time in his hockey Allsvenskan debut.
Then he completed a hat-trick.
– Absolutely insane and incredibly fun, he says.
Nine players have been younger when they have debuted.
But no one has previously become a goal scorer as a 15-year-old in the hockey Allsvenskan.
– It was completely unreal, completely insane. The whole body stopped at the first goal, says Filip Ekberg, who opened the scoring against Östersund in the first period.
Scored a hat trick for Almtuna
But it didn’t stop there for Ekberg, who is considered one of Sweden’s most promising 07s.
He extended the lead to 3–0 and completed a hat-trick by ice-cold prying in 5–1 between the legs of goalkeeper Oliver Dackell.
– Incredibly fun. The goals were just extra fun. The big thing was to be here and get the chance, says Ekberg humbly.
How nervous were you before the first change?
– It was very edgy. But it was nice that it was rolling on. I got into it pretty quickly.
Friends’ hug party
After the match, Ekberg’s friends had gathered outside the dressing room.
Anticipation was tense when the door to the dressing room opened again and again without the hat-trick scorer coming out.
But in the end – after a “in five minutes, he’ll just take off his skates” – the friends could throw themselves over Ekberg and congratulate him.
– It’s just love. I didn’t hear much. Everyone was in a huddle and shouting. It was just incredibly powerful, smiles the 15-year-old.
What are your goals with hockey?
– Everyone dreams of the NHL. That’s my big dream too.
Highly praised: “Like Bäckström”
Almtuna’s coach Robert Kimby is impressed by his talent.
– It is only positive. This will be great for him, it’s nothing to brag about that it’s a great talent and you have to deal with it and go through it at some point, says Kimby.
How do you react when it becomes a hat-trick?
– It’s unreasonable in some way, of course. But at the same time, we are not surprised given what we know is there. To achieve that in a debut as a 15-year-old can never be predicted and the rest of the team have really helped him to let go of his nervousness.
– There is nothing but five plus.
What is he good at?
– He has a very well-developed sense of the game and fine technique and good shots. He likes to be on the ice, as those who are good at an early age tend to do. But above all, the sense of play is far advanced even compared to senior players at our level.
Almtuna’s sporting director Tony Mårtensson did not agree with the praise either.
– Best I’ve seen. The game mind and presence of mind on the ice. He reminds me of Nicklas Bäckström, says Mårtensson, who played at the WC with “Bäckis” in 2006.
The match ended 6–1.