Jacob Markstrom has made a name for himself in Sweden and on the world stage. Now its the AHLs turn.
CONSIDERING HIS BLOODLINES,
Jacob Markstrom was pretty much born to be a goalie.
Just not in hockey.

His father, Anders, was a goalkeeper on the soccer pitch, as is his older brother, Tim, who with played the 2010 season with Sandvikens IF in Swedens Division 2.
Jacob also was a goalkeeper in soccer. But somewhere around age 15, the younger Markstrom decided to stick with hockey.“You come to an age where you have I” choose one spoil,” Markstrom said. “I played sue cer and I still love soccer, but I decided to play hockey.” A wise decision. The 20 – ycar – old Markstrom is considered one of the best players in the world not currently on NHL ice – he was THNs No. 2 – ranked prospect in Future Watch 2010. And hes out to prove he belongs in the NHL sooner rather than later.
A second round pick in 2008 by the Florida Panthers, Markstrom embarks on his North American pro career this season. While hes considered the goalie of the future for the Panthers, hell be the goalie of today for the Rochester Americans.

And hes OK with that. He understands there will be a transition from the style of play on the big European to how the game is played on the North American smaller rinks.
“Its a really good thing to play in Rochester to adjust your game and its a really good league, too,” said the 6 – foot – 3, 178 – pound Markstrom. “Ihe NHL, thats my goal and thats my dream, but if I play in Rochester 10 games or two years, its OK.”

Markstrom did a little hockey homework during the summer. He had dinner with former Tampa Bay goalie Johan Holmqvist, who provided advice about life on and off the ice as a foreigner in North America.
I he game will be different, but so will the food and his downtime.

“Ive played in my hometown Ihe whole time; all my friends and my parents were always close and could go to games,”
Markstrom said. “Coming here, you will not be around your friends that you have been around your whole life.”
He knows there will be an adjustment period on the ice, loo. Though he has been told over and over that shots will come from anywhere at any time in the NHL game, he still needs to experience it to understand it.

He also needs to learn how to contend with players crowding his goal crease.
“How they drive to the net and how they try to play for rebounds will be new,” Markstrom said. “I know there will be players in front, but Im pretty tall, Im trying to look over the guys.”
His long – time buddy from home, fellow Gavle native Nicklas Backstrom, is coining off a 101 – point NHL season with the Washington Capitals. Markstrom also picked his brain about what to expect in what will be a new style of hockey.

“Theres stuff you already know, but its good to hear it again and remind yourself whal it will be like,” he said.
Markstrom helped Sweden win silver at the 2009 World Junior Championship and bronze last year. In 10 WJC starts over two years, he won eight. This past spring, he won bronze at the World Championship. I hat came after his second season with Brynas IF in the Swedish Elite League, where he was named goalie of the year.
“Since I got drafted, I had in the back of my head that I wanted to come over,” Markstrom said. “It has been two good years in Sweden and when my contract expired, I knew I was ready to start the next part of my career.

“Im excited and looking forward to it. Of course I have to make some adjustments, but this is what Ive wanted to do.”
And while Markstrom would seem to be a favorite to win the pre – game soccer competition so many teams use as warmup exercise, he may skip the ritual.
“I dont know if Ill play,” Markstrom said, “because I sprained my ankle playing soccer during the world championships.”
If nothing else, that could explain why he chose hockey over soccer.