I’d been called to the national team, of course, I went here, says Carl Söderberg

At the weekend two important tournaments were held in Europe. First is the finals in European trophy and the second is Russian Euro Hockey Tour Stage in Moscow, known as Channel One Cup. There is only one player at EHT, who could have played in Vienna instead. This man is Carl Söderberg from Linköping HC.

"If I've been called to a national team, of course, I go here," Söderberg said. "The coaches from Linköping told me to go to Moscow."

Söderberg hasn't played much for the national team; he played 4 games during the 2008/9 season. Last time before that he wore a jersey with three crowns was in the 2004-05 season at WJC in USA, where Sweden lost to USA in the quarterfinals. At Channel One Cup he earned three points with three assists.

"I'm happy to be here, I believe in myself and prepared for a hard tournament and I'm satisfied with our performance."
Could he dream about this some months ago, playing in Allsvenskan for his home team Malmö Redhawks? After last season he moved from Malmö to Linköping, where in 17 games earned 18 points, and got his chance to play in the national team.

"I was in my home team Malmö. Last season we didn't get a promotion to the Elite league, I thought about my career and made a change. It has been a good year."


Carl Söderberg in the game against Russia.
Photo: Elena Rusko

In the first game at the tournament, which was held in Czech Chomutov, he set up a pass to Dick Axelsson, who tied the game. Against Russia he again made a goal assist to Axelsson, who scored the game-winning goal of that battle. On Saturday the eastern neighbors helped Sweden team to win a main trophy here with their loss to the Czech team 1-5. It was the first Channel One Cup win for Sweden since 1998. But on Sunday Finland played better and beat Sweden 4-3; Söderberg again gave a pass, now for the other line-partner Patrik Zackrisson.

"Finland, after losing twice was more focused in this game, than us. Besides that, we're happy with wins against Czech Republic and Russia. It was a good tournament, and it's great to win here."

 

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