2010 Hockey East Championships | Sports

Men’s Hockey: Andersson part of UMaine’s Swedish pipeline

Sophomore is one of three Swedish players on UMaine roster

Posted on March 17, 2010, at 10:41 p.m.

Three years ago, when University of Maine sophomore left wing Theo Andersson, from Sweden, decided he wanted to play college hockey in the United States, he was unaware that eight years earlier, in 1999, Swedish-born Marcus Gustafsson scored the game-winning goal in overtime to propel the Black Bears to their second National Championship.

That Swedes Robert Ek and twins Anders and Magnus Lundback also played a part in UMaine’s title run was also news to Andersson.

UMaine associate head coach Dan Kerluke — a winger on Maine’s 1999 team — filled Andersson in on UMaine hockey history during a 2007 recruiting trip to Sweden that resulted in Andersson, classmate Gustav Nyquist and freshman Klas Leidermark committing to UMaine.

Andersson also sought advice from the leading scorer of the 1999 Black Bears, Steve Kariya, who was playing for Swedish professional team Frolunda Hockey Club, based in Andersson’s hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden. The middle brother of the Kariya trio sold Andersson on his alma mater.

“[Kariya] said he had a great time here and he loved it,” Andersson said.

Andersson was the third leading scorer for the Frolunda Under-20 team in 2007-08 with 41 points in 41 games and impressed Kerluke in the lone game the UMaine coaching staff got to scout. UMaine coach Tim Whitehead took a chance on Andersson, who was not recruited by other U.S. schools, bringing him in along with top Swedish talent Nyquist.

“It’s a bit of a gamble sometimes,” Kerluke said. “I didn’t have a real solid idea how his game would translate to here. It’s a big jump.”

Andersson failed to record a point in his first season with the Black Bears, and was in and out of the lineup, playing in just 18 of 39 games. He has since developed into a top penalty killer for UMaine, and has chipped in with three goals and three assists for six points. Andersson has played in 29 of 37 games this season, and despite typically playing on the fourth forward line, is tied with second-line left wing Spencer Abbott for the best plus-minus rating (-1) of UMaine forwards, excluding the top scoring line of Nyquist, Tanner House and Brian Flynn.

“Theo’s very good on the penalty kill, and he takes pride in that role,” Kerluke said.

“Even the role players, you need them to produce,” he added. “Having goals from the fourth line lifts the team in a big way.”

Andersson took the role change from offensive threat to defensive specialist in stride. He said the highlight so far this season was his first goal scored at Alfond Arena, coming against rival University of New Hampshire on Feb. 6.

“I was just going to work harder than last year, and try to break the lineup more, and I’ve done that,” Andersson said. “I’ll take my role as whatever I can do for the team.”

Andersson was venturing to the unknown by coming to Orono. Unlike Nyquist, he did not visit UMaine before committing. Nyquist, from Malmo, Sweden, had committed before him and convinced Andersson he would like the school.

“It was a very good choice,” Andersson said. “I’m so happy that I [committed].”

Former University of Vermont star Viktor Stalberg, also from Gothenburg, who left the Catamounts last spring after his third season to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, also confirmed Andersson’s expectations of an American college education and NCAA Division I hockey. Stalberg’s younger brother Sebastian played with Andersson on Frolunda and is a freshman at UVM.

“I wanted to compete at a high level in hockey and at the same time get a good education,” Andersson said.

Andersson’s parents supported his decision to leave Sweden.

“They’ve always been behind me, whatever I’ve want to do,” Andersson said. “When I told them I wanted to come over here and get an education and play hockey at the highest level, they thought it was a great idea.”

If Andersson had not enrolled at UMaine, last year would have been the final season of junior hockey eligibility for the 20-year-old. His next option in Sweden would be to play in a low-paying professional league called Second League, which Andersson said has a similar talent level as Division I college hockey and is a step below the highest-level Swedish Elite League.

Andersson had to adjust to a more physical game than is played on the wider Olympic-sized rinks in Sweden. Like Nyquist and Leidermark, Andersson thrives on his skating ability, but is not known for delivering bodychecks. He has spent just six minutes in the penalty box this season.

“The rinks are smaller and the game is tougher over here,” Andersson said. “I just try to play as simple as possible.”

Kerluke said he would like to see Andersson elevate his intensity and physicality, but noted the more laid-back Swedish culture has an effect on the way the game is played there.

In order to succeed in the classroom, Andersson had to develop his English speaking proficiency. He also had to acclimate to the American culture and a college town. Gothenburg is a city of more than 500,000 people.

“[UMaine Athletic Academic Counselor] Crissy [Kerluke] and the coaching staff took very good care of me,” Andersson said. “It was a tough adjustment being away from my family for the first time, but you’ve got to go away sometime.”

The UMaine coaching staff expanded their range of recruiting to Sweden as Boston area schools and Canadian Major Junior teams compete for local talent. Kerluke said finding another elite Swedish talent such as Nyquist or Stalberg that meets NCAA eligibility requirements will be difficult, because the Swedish Ice Hockey Association is starting to protect their top players by tempting them with professional contracts that void their eligibility.

“We can get a ton of Swedes, but we need ones that can help us,” Kerluke said.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010, 10:41 pm. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.