Hockey has a deep history in different societies of the world. Historical findings dating back to 1000 B.C. reveal that an early variation of the sport was played in Ethiopia and by the Aztecs, pre-Columbus.
An approximate timeline: http://www.sihrhockey.org/__a/public/horg.cfm

Moving forward to modern times, and Sweden, Krull met up with Oliver Kylington who has garnered a lot of well-deserved commendations for his contributions to the sport of ice hockey. In April 2015, Rafik Soliman at eliteprospects.com described Oliver as “A smart two-way defenseman, who has tremendous feeling for the game and reads the plays well. Oliver Kylington is only average sized, but lets you forget the missing inches with his hockey sense, his strong vision and remarkable skating abilities…”

Krull: Athletic people are sometimes interested in more than one sport. I read that football was your other interest. What was it specifically about hockey that made it the sport you decided to focus on?

O.K.: As a young boy, I played football and hockey and excelled at both. I maintained both sports until the age of between 12 and 13 when I felt it was time to make a decision. I am competitive and very committed, so I had to decide, since both sports require quite a lot of commitment. After seeking my father’s counsel and discussing my choices in depth, I chose to focus entirely on hockey. It’s better to go full-blown into something and be great, than to split the energy between several things and give a mediocre performance.

Krull: Hockey is often stereotyped as a ”non-black” sport, unbeknownst to many that participation in the sport in North America dates back to the 19th century, with Canadian Herbert Henry “Herb” Carnegie being the first black ice hockey player who became a star during the Great Depression, followed by American Wilie O’Ree who even broke the NHL’s color barrier with the Boston Bruins. Did you ever give this stereotype any consideration?

O.K.: Well, it certainly isn’t this chip I walk around carrying on my shoulder, or something I’m always thinking about. As soon as we set foot on the rink, it is solely about playing the game to the best of our abilities. We play to win, so that aspect of blackness and whiteness is an unimportant non-issue. Instead, we focus on what we have in common, which naturally is the love of the game. Nothing can get in the way of that.

Any tensions I experienced happened while I was younger and early on in my career. However, it’s nothing I’ve taken notice of directly, or had to deal with on the professional level.  No racist attacks aimed directly at me. My experience is that most people understand that the sport takes center stage and one’s ethnicity shouldn’t be a hindrance. Also, there aren’t a lot of people of color in the world’s hockey leagues, which makes people of color extra proud of the ones that are there and performing well.

Krull: So…second round draft…let’s talk about that. What are your thoughts while you wait? Do you consider that if picked you will in fact be the youngest Swedish player ever drafted? Or that you will be a member of a very small club with only a total of 86 (85 before you)? Or did you already know/feel that you were in? Please, tell me about your thought process.

O.K.:  It’s hard to plan as it is all out of your hands. Among other things, there are a lot of meetings, scouts, etc. during an entire year. Pretty much each time there’s a game you can reasonably expect a lot of eyes to be on you. As a result you have to be conscious of your behavior both on and off the ice.

People commonly mix up being drafted with being signed (https://www.quora.com/If-a-player-is-picked-in-the-NFL-draft-does-the-player-have-any-say-in-which-team-they-play-for-If-not-why-not). When one is drafted, the organization owns the rights to the player. Being signed on the other hand binds the player contractually to the team/organization. Which is what most players desire (as opposed to being free agents). I was signed two and a half weeks after the draft. The draft is very unpredictable. I was happy when I got picked by Calgary.

Krull: Being a professional athlete requires a great deal of determination, focus and work. This sometimes paints the picture that sportsmen are overly serious. How does your ”on-rink persona” differ from your personality after the gear comes off and you leave the locker room?

O.K.:  I am quite grumpy and serious on the ice. My aim is to be the best each and every single game, which requires me to be completely focused on the game and nothing but the game. Off the ice I’m much more pleasant and social. It’s just like any other job out there that requires you to be business-like and professional. Once I’m in an environment that is more relaxed and leisurely, I’m more laid back. When it’s time to have a good time, I’m as hyped as the next person at a party.

Krull: Even though it has been three months since Finland took the gold at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, I’m still somewhat of a sore (spectator) loser. What is your take on that championship and the outcome?

O.K.:  They did very well. I belonged to the team that played last year. It was a really fun experience in Leysin, Switzerland. It was an ok tournament. I was back from injury. Although the experience was good, I was unhappy with the outcome, as the results were not satisfactory. This year’s team did much better. The junior team is really good. Unfortunately, they didn’t go all the way, in North Dakota. However, it is a good thing that they are demonstrating the high caliber and well developed level of players in the U18.

Krull: Who, if anyone, is/are your greatest role model(s) in life and why?

O.K.: One guy that I’ve had as a role model growing up is Johnny Oduya who plays for the Dallas Stars, in the NHL. Our ethnic backgrounds are similar. He also has one parent from Africa (Kenya) and one from Sweden, which made him relatable to me. He’s been a great sounding board as he is established in the sport on an elite level. Also, his insight is invaluable as he’s an insider and has an understanding of the expectations and challenges of being a professional hockey player, better than a layperson would have.  He’s been a great support.

And of course, my Dad.

Krull: Who have you yet to meet that you would like to meet somewhere down the line?
O.K.: Kanye West and Barack Obama. They seem like they would be really interesting to speak to.

Krull: Saw this funny clip last year regarding the sort of cliché answers given by players post games. Do you have any standardized responses to the sometimes repetitive and sometimes even stupid questions sports reporters like to ask players after a game?

O.K.:  I don’t have standard answers but there are a few words that are more recurring. ”Obviously” and ”For sure” tend to be the ones I use most frequently as preambles to sentences.

Krull: In spite of your age (pardon the ageism) you’ve accomplished more in the sport than many others twice your age. There are quite a few records and accolades attached to your name thus far. What has been the moment that you find to be most defining in your life up to now?

O.K.:  Naturally debuting as an NHL player at 18 is what is freshly on my mind. However, playing in the top league in Sweden was fundamental to my professional understanding of the game. Very educational, observing the pro’s. And also it physically prepared my body for the high level of athleticism required.

Krull: What is the next conquest on your horizon? What are you aiming for next?

O.K.: To get a regular spot, to be permanently contracted to the NHL and to soar to higher heights of achievement in my sport.

photos: Andrea Davis Kronlund

styling: Samantha Braun

clothing: Oliver’s own