Swedish juniors, OHL return eyed
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Defenceman Alexander Eriksson of the Brampton Battalion, who took a major step this week toward returning to the Ontario Hockey League team’s lineup, will suit up for his country first.
The 19-year-old Swede skated with players from the Bjorkloven organization for two hours, his first on-ice venture since a 5-4 overtime win by the Battalion over the host Kitchener Rangers on Dec. 5.
Eriksson, who skated for an hour Thursday, suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Nov. 18 against the visiting Barrie Colts and underwent arthroscopic surgery Jan. 30.
“It was amazing,” Eriksson said via telephone from his home in Umea, Sweden. “I was really happy with how it went. It felt so good to get out again. My knee felt normal. I didn’t feel the brace either. It was just shinny, something to get the legs going.”
Eriksson has received permission from coach Stan Butler to miss the Battalion’s training camp and first two exhibition games to play with the Swedish national junior team in a tournament in the Czech Republic starting Aug. 23.
“I was happy when they asked me to play, and it’s a real honour to be asked,” said Eriksson, who’s expected to arrive in Canada on Sept. 1. “It was great once the Battalion gave me the go-ahead to play. It’ll be a good thing to play in the tournament because when I get to Brampton I should be in good shape.”
After the Troops’ season ended with a loss to Barrie in an Eastern Conference quarterfinal, Eriksson returned home to continue his rehabilitation.
“I made contact with a trainer here, and he really helped me a lot. Every month they checked my knee, and I was cleared to begin skating three weeks ago.”
The 14th overall pick in the Canadian Hockey League’s 2007 Import Draft, Eriksson scored one goal and earned five assists for six points in 25 OHL games.
“Hopefully I can make a good impression on the coaches as soon as I get back, and they’ll give me lots of ice time.”
