If there’s one certainty when it comes to the Calgary Flames, it’s that they’ve long relied on the honesty and skill of Swedish players to keep the hockey club on the right track.

Dating back to the selection of Torbjorn Nilsson in 1975, the Flames franchise has selected 43 Swedish players over the years. They’ve had 29 Swedish skaters and three Swedish goalies play games for the NHL club, too, with the current incarnation of the Flames featuring captain Mikael Backlund and alternate captain Rasmus Andersson.

Down the hallway, the Calgary Hitmen are led by a burly Swedish blueliner who’s hoping to join the ranks of his countrymen who have worn the Flaming C. 2023 seventh-round pick Axel Hurtig joined the Hitmen prior to the 2024-25 season, and impressed his club enough that he was named their captain in October.

“We actually did a team questionnaire,” said Hurtig, chatting following the recent Teddy Bear Toss. “So kind of the team picked me, and that’s an honour that the team trusts me in that position. I’m just trying to be myself. I’m a pretty loud guy in the locker room, stand up for my teammates. So, you know, I don’t think it changed me too much. I’m just trying to be myself and play my game and be a voice in the room.”

“Axel’s been awesome for us, so good,” said Hitmen head coach Dustin Friesen. “He’s getting better. He kind of sets the tone for how we want to play on the ice, just with his game, and he’s growing. He wants to be a Calgary Flame one day, so he’s working towards that. And then also, his leadership on the ice. He’s done a really good job of just being himself, being genuine, raising the bar for our group. And other leaders have done a good job as well, following his suit. But I think he definitely sets the tone. and so on.”

A product of Hogas, Sweden, Hurtig came up through the Swedish club system and was selected by the Flames in part because of a really effective performance at the Under-18 World Championships – Sweden took silver. While not an offensive dynamo, Hurtig has built a reputation as a stout defender.

“I’m a defensive defenceman,” said Hurtig. “I’m working on my offensive game. I thought it’s gotten a lot better. You know, I hit. When I get the chance to hit, I hit. I just think when you’re a big bod, you’ve got to do that, especially on the smaller ice. You know, I don’t think forwards like to play against a hard D-man. They kind of go out the way to not be in my corner, and I take a lot of pride in that.”

Hurtig was selected by the Hitmen in the 2023 Import Draft, but spent 2023-24 season in Sweden playing with his club team, Rögle BK, and recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. Hurtig mentioned that fellow Swede William Strömgren was a big help to him when he entered the organization, and he’s in regular communication with Swedish draftees Theo Stockselius and Jakob Leander, continuing that supportive tradition. Hurtig joined the Hitmen in advance of the 2024-25 season and quickly adapted to the smaller North American ice.

“Well, it’s a faster game here,” said Hurtig. “Europe is a lot more like puck possession, going D to D here, just more north-south. It kind of took a few games to get into it, but I thought I adjusted pretty well being here in the summer too, practising and working out on the smaller ice. It probably helped me a lot getting into it, so it wasn’t that big of a deal for me, so I’m happy for that.”

A 2005-born player, Hurtig will age out of major junior following this season. He’s hoping to go pro with the Flames organization in 2026-27 and is working to build his game up so he can make that jump.

“You know, try to get stronger, faster, all those things,” said Hurtig. “I think I’ve done a good job so far this year, but just keep on grinding, just getting better every day. I come here with a good mindset, trying to get better, and I think it’s going well so far.”

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