Interview with Erik Gustafsson

Andreas Reiner: Hi Erik, why don't you tell our readers a little bit who you are, were you're from and how you became a hockey player!

Erik Gustafsson: Sure! I'm a 26 year old guy who likes the outdoors, I like to hang out with family and friends, I'm kind of a low key guy. I don't need much to be happy, I just take it easy, watch TV-Shows.

AR: What TV-Shows do you watch?

EG: A lot of them, but everybody's watching Game of Thrones and I also really like Hannibal. Anyway, I started playing hockey because of my older brother, I can't tell you the exact age but I stood on a pair of skates once I was able to follow him. But I also played football and went downhill skiing. So in winter I played hockey, in summer I played football. At some point I had to choose between either sports and since my brother chose hockey, I chose hockey too.

AR: Would you consider your brother to be a role model?

EG: For sure, both, my older and my younger brother, my family, they supported me throughout my career, it's been a long road to get where I am but it's been a fun trip so far.

AR: Can you tell us which teams you've played for so far?

EG: I started playing at Njuranda SK untill I was 15 years old, then I moved away to a kind of High School Hockey programme just 40 minutes away from home, played hockey and went to school while living in my own appartment. Then I played for Timra IK for 3 years during High School, those were the best years of my life, I had a lot of responsibility and fun too. I moved away from there after those 3 years as I felt that I didn't get an opportunity to play for the elite team so I went to College at Northern Michigan University for 3 years. I had a great coach who believed in me and I grew a lot as a player and a person. That was pretty special when you're just 18 years old, moving to a different country but I don't regret anything that I've done, it was a lot of fun. And it definitely was a big reason why i became a pro player.

AR: Did you ever get home sick during the time?

EG: The first month or so was pretty hard but then everything went smooth, I was taken care of. Also, I knew what I wanted, I always wanted to play in North America with my mind set to work hard and work for opportunities but knowing that if I didn't like it I could always go home after a year. So after 3 years at the University I got an offer from Philadelphia (Flyers), I took it, it was a great opportunity and I knew that I could always go back to College but I didn't want to pass out on the chance. I signed a 3 year entry-level contract with them, spent pretty much the whole year in the American Hockey League affiliate (Adirondack Phantoms). I played 3 games with the Flyers on two occasions during that season.

AR: How was it to play your first game in the NHL?

The first time I was called up and flew all the way to Los Angeles, I had so many thoughts but then I didn't even play and spent something like 2 weeks with the team. It was good though, to meet the guys, train with them. Later in the season I got my second call up and played against the Ottawa Senators in February. I was on the ice for 16 minutes but it felt like 40! Cost me a lot of nerves but it's something I'll never forget.

The second year I was sent back to the AHL team after training camp but I had a good start, got called up again because Chris Pronger got injured, I played pretty well and was told that I could stay with the team eventhough Pronger returned. Unfortunately I hurt my wrist and was out for 10 weeks, came back but then it was the shuttle bus between Philly and Adirondack for the rest of the year for me.

The third year started with the lockout, I was hurt again when the NHL picked up their schedule but was back just on time, I finished off really good I think.

AR: Did you ever have thoughts like "What am I doing here, being sent up and down" or did you just try and focus?

EG: At that time I really had my mind set on the NHL, working hard, putting in my time and trying to get better every day and I was so close, nothing inside of me wanted to give up. In my 4th year, I got a one-way deal but the season didn't really turn out the way I wanted, it was pretty hard, especially mentally because I thought I had a lot more hockey in me than I brought out on the ice. At the end of the year, it felt as if I had beaten myself up a little too much and I had to leave and turn the page, play somewhere where I got to play more and enjoy hockey again. So I went to Russia last year (KHL's Avangard Omsk), had a really good year on the ice, I liked the whole experience. I tried to go back to the NHL this year but didn't really work out with Philly having my rights but going a bit of a different direction.

AR: Is it still your number one goal to play in the NHL?

EG: I know that I'm getting older and older, the window of opportunity gets smaller and smaller but you never close the door, I think you can always get better as a player. Talking to Sean (Simpson, head coach Kloten Flyers) before I came here was like the final piece of the puzzle for me to decide to sign here.

AR: How did the transfer happen?

EG: My agent has good contacts with Kloten and the new ownership and he knew that Kloten was turning the page as well after a tough last season (Kloten finished in the play-outs but remained in the National League A) so he brought up the Flyers. As mentioned, I talked to Sean and it felt like a great match. I only heard good stuff from other guys about playing in Switzerland so it wasn't a hard decision at the end.

AR: Do you know any of the guys on the roster?

EG: Yep, I played with Mark (Olver, newly acquired) in College and I played with Chad (Kolarik, newly acquired) in Omsk last year.I think we have a great team and I already feel like one of the guys on the team, everyone's very forthcoming.

AR: What's your personal expectation for this coming season?

EG: For me, I want to play a lot, produce in the offense and shut down the other teams first line for sure. I can be a really good player and keep on developing, help the team win.

AR: How were you welcomed to Kloten, how did it feel to be in a new place?

EG: Pretty excited to get going! It was the first time that I had a long summer but I was excited to get on the flight here, Pasci (Pascal Müller, Team Manager) picked me up at the airport, everything was set up, appartment, car, everything was already organised, I felt very welcomed and now I'm ready to go!

AR: I'm sure you had heard that the Kloten Flyers didn't play a very good last season, how's the attitude within the team and in the organisation at this time?

EG: The vibe, the feeling ever since I came has been professional, a hard working attitude. The guys want to avenge themselves and show everyone. They know they didn't have a great season so they want to prove to everyone, prove to themselves as well. But they know it's going to be a hard year but they don't want it to happen again. The new ownership knows what they want, we have the coaches who know what they want and need from us players which makes it easy for us. The atmosphere in the room right now is pointing to hard work and revenge, prove to everyone that we're a good team.

Erik, thank you so much for your time!

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