Ekberg heads to Camrose for latest chapter with Sweden
Ottawa 67’s forward Filip Ekberg is once again donning the traditional yellow and blue of the Swedish national team, representing his home country in Camrose, Alberta at the Junior A World Challenge.
Ekberg has competed internationally many times before, including the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where he scored eight points in seven games.
The latest chapter was confirmed a number of weeks ago, when Ekberg was informed he had been selected to participate.
“The coach called me and just said to me I was on the team,” he explained. “I talked to the 67’s, and they [were happy for me to play], so it was a nice feeling.”
Ekberg says there are too many memories from his time with the Tre Kroner, and it would be too difficult to choose just one that stands out as his favourite. Every time he’s able to put that jersey on, it’s an honour he’ll one day be able to tell his grandkids about.
“Obviously, every time you get the chance to represent the country, it’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “I love it, it’s so it’s cool.”
The 67’s brass selected Ekberg with the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft, and this far, it has been a gem of a choice.
The Uppsala native has scored 17 points in his first 21 OHL games, earning time on the power play, where he has been a key contributor to the Barber Poles’ Eastern Conference-topping unit.
“Filip has previously been a key member of the Swedish National Team program at the Under 17 and Under 18 levels,” said 67’s General Manager James Boyd. “We know that Filip is always proud to represent his country and we are looking forward to seeing him play at this year’s World Junior A Challenge.”
His success hasn’t come easy, however. A few different times this year, Ekberg has missed time due to illness, losing ice time and the opportunity to further relationships with his new teammates.
Yet, he has made the most of the time he has gotten, and feels like he’s settling into the North American game nicely, even if there is more runway for improvement in the second half.
“I think so,” Ekberg said. “I have had a bit of bad luck with the sickness and everything, and I just hope I can be fully ready and just get into it more [later in the year].”
Sweden begins tournament action tonight, taking on Team Canada West.
Ekberg isn’t alone
Though Ekberg will be the only player representing Sweden currently playing his club hockey outside the country, he won’t be the only person with 67’s connections at the Junior A World Challenge.
Matthew Souliere, who the Barber Poles drafted in the 12th round of the 2022 OHL Priority selection, will suit up for Team Canada East, alongside Shaan Kingwell, who was an 11th-round pick in 2023.
With the OJHL’s Trenton Golden Hawks this season, Souliere has scored 34 points in 26 games, while Kingwell is sixth in CCHL scoring this season with the Navan Grads, notching 39 points in just 23 games.
Both participated in the Battle of Ontario in November.
Team Canada East begins their tournament this afternoon, when they take on Team USA.
