Andersson scores game-winner for Flames, then gets named to Swedish national team for 4 Nations
It was a wild 24 hours for the Flames’ Swedish defenceman Rasmus Andersson.
Tuesday night, he scored the game-winning goal as the Flames dumped the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 in an emotional game where the Flames paid tribute to the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
Then Wednesday morning, Andersson discovered he’s been named to the Swedish roster for the upcoming Four Nations tournament.
It’s a huge honour and well-deserved for the Flames defenceman, who said he was thrilled to be able to play on his national team for the first time since he represented Sweden in a U-16 tournament a decade ago.
“It means a lot,” he said. “It means you’ve done something good. It’s the first time in a long time that I get to play on the national team and it’s something I’m super excited about.
“I couldn’t be more happy and proud that I’ve made the team and I’m really looking forward to (playing) in this tournament.”
Flames head coach Ryan Huska said the nod was overdue and welcome.
“It is some recognition of what he has done over the years and how he’s made himself a better player,” Huska said.
“When you get someone who gets to go to an event like this, he comes back with a little bit more swagger, a little bit more confidence and maybe more of a belief knowing that yep, I am one of the elite players in the league – and when you get that (sort of recognition), there’s a tendency to bring other people along.”
The other Flames player with a chance to be named to the Swedish roster was Mikael Backlund but he wasn't.
A half-dozen former Flames were named to teams, including Jakob Markstrom (Sweden) and Elias Lindholm (Sweden), Matthew Tkachuk (U.S.), Noah Hanifin (U.S.), Sam Bennett (Canada) and Juuso Valimaki (Finland).
Former Calgarians Cale Makar and goaltender Adin Hill were also named to the Canadian roster.
The tournament features teams from Canada, the U.S., Finland and Sweden. The first game, between Finland and the U.S., takes place Feb. 13 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
With files from CTV's Glenn Campbell
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Police believe the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO quickly left NYC on a bus after shooting
Investigators found a backpack in Central Park that was carried by the shooter, police said Friday, following a massive sweep to find it in a vast area with lakes and ponds, meadows, playgrounds and a densely wooded section called 'The Ramble.'
A police photographer recounts the harrowing day of the Polytechnique massacre
Montreal crime scene photographer Harold Rosenberg witnessed a lot of horror over his thirty years on the job, though nothing of the magnitude of what he captured with his lens at the Polytechnique on December 6, 1989. He described the day of the Montreal massacre to CTV Quebec Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin.
Quebec premier wants to ban praying in public
Premier François Legault took advantage of the last day of the parliamentary session on Friday to announce to 'Islamists' that he will 'fight' for Quebec values and possibly use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places such as parks.
Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog
WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year.
'Home Alone' house up for sale for US$3.8 million in Chicago suburb – but not the one you're thinking of
Social media sleuths noticed that the house next door to the iconic 'Home Alone' house in Winnetka is now up for sale.
Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike
Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike.
NDP's Singh forces debate on $250 cheques for more Canadians; Conservatives cut it short
With the fate of the federal government's promised $250 cheques for 18.7 million workers hanging in the balance, the NDP forced a debate Friday on a motion pushing for the prime minister to expand eligibility. The conversation was cut short, though, by Conservative MPs' interventions.
Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time
Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served.
South Korean lawmakers set to vote on impeachment after martial law debacle
South Korean lawmakers are set to vote later Saturday on impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived attempt to impose martial law, as protests grew nationwide calling for his removal.