Leo Carlsson is from Karlstad, but lived in Örebro for three years until 2023. He got his breakthrough in the Närke team before moving to the NHL.
Moreover, his girlfriend Daniella is from Örebro.
It's a long way between Anaheim on the American west coast and the affected Swedish city – which made the act that cost ten people plus the perpetrator their lives even more unreal for Leo Carlsson.
It's tough when you're so far away compared to if you had been in Örebro. Of course, all thoughts go to those who have passed away and to those who have lost someone. It's tragic, he says after Tre Kronor's first practice ahead of the star tournament Four Nations in Montreal.
You can't believe it's true. It has never happened in Sweden and it's not something you think will happen. So it's tough. You think of all those affected, he adds.
That his girlfriend Daniella's mom has worked at Campus Risbergska makes it all even more unreal.
She had a colleague who died there, Leo Carlsson tells.
The 20-year-old super talent is in his second NHL season and has already played a World Championship with Tre Kronor, in Tampere 2023. There, he became the youngest Swedish World Championship goal scorer of all time, at 18 years old.
About his hopes ahead of Four Nations, he says:
My hope is just to be ready when the chance comes. Then I'll be ready with full speed in my legs, he says.
