“Why Marcus Högberg Refused Tre Kronor’s Third Goalkeeper Spot in the Hockey World Cup to Focus on Family and Linköping Pre-Season”

Marcus Högberg was told that he was ranked third goalkeeper in Tre Kronor.

Then he refused and Jacob Johansson in Timrå got the place in the WC squad.

– After discussions and consensus, I chose to focus on the family and Linköping, says the 28-year-old.

The players who had to leave Tre Kronor after the Czech Hockey Games in the last thinning before leaving for the hockey World Cup were Marcus Högberg, Hardy Häman Aktell, Dennis Rasmussen and Isac Brännström.

The national team management, led by national team captain Sam Hallam, has ranked Lasse Johansson in Frölunda and Jesper Wallstedt in the Minnesota Wild as first and second in the goalkeeper line-up.

“We made a ranking after the weekend and there are other things in life than hockey. Marcus Högberg will be at home taking care of his family for the next few weeks,” announced Sam Hallam at the squad selection.

– I had the chance to come along if I wanted to, but the chances of playing were slim so I chose to stay at home to focus on the family and the next season with Linköping. The advantages of staying at home were greater than going to Finland, says Marcus Högberg.

full screen

Difficult time for the second child

The couple has a one-and-a-half-year-old child and had an addition five weeks ago.

– Neither the birth nor the first weeks for the baby have been easy. Then it feels good to be able to do more good at home than to sit on the sidelines at the WC, says Marcus Högberg.

Last World Cup, he played the first match against Austria, but since Linus Ullmark came in, he had to sit in the stands behind him and Magnus Hellberg.

– The WC was a very cool experience that I recommend to everyone who has the opportunity. It has been a very tough decision to make, because I value it very highly to be able to play with Tre Kronor, in the WC and for Sam Hallam. I wanted to play the WC and really wanted to try to take the chance, but now it turned out that there wasn’t such a big chance to play. This time it didn’t go so well when I came third, says Marcus Högberg.

Wants a proper pre-season

Instead, he chooses to take a long-term view and participate in the pre-season with Linköping, which has been running since April 3.

– I get to build a good foundation for the future. I’ve missed so much the last few years with corona and coming home late from the NHL. There are a few years where I haven’t been able to have such a long pre-season. Now I get to prepare for the SHL with Linköping and the goal of playing in the upcoming WC, says Marcus Högberg.

So far, Linköping has invested in new acquisitions Remi Elie, Färjestad, Taylor Leier, Straubing, William Worge Kreü, Oskarshamn and Arvid Aronsson, Bik Karlskoga.

The Ice Hockey World Cup starts on Friday when Tre Kronor meets Germany in its first game in the tournament.