Karlsson Reflects on Sochi Olympics as a Career Highlight Ahead of 2026 Games

The defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins, **[Erik Karlsson](https://www.example.com/tags/25394-erik-karlsson/)**, shared his thoughts on being selected for the Swedish national team for the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy. This will be the first tournament featuring NHL players since the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, where Sweden reached the finals but lost to Canada with a score of 0-3.

«It’s an incredible honor. It’s fantastic. I’m very happy and excited; I’ve waited for this for a long time. Yes, I don’t have the best memories from the 2014 Olympic final. But honestly, I have great memories of the Sochi tournament. It was one of the highlights of my hockey career.

We lost in the finals, but our team faced challenges. I’m very proud of what we accomplished. Looking back, I think we made the most of our chances and earned the silver medal. Overall, it was an amazing experience. Obviously, I’ve missed it over the last 10-12 years,» Karlsson was quoted by the Pittsburgh website.