Calls home every day

Elias Pettersson moved out on his own when he was 15, moving from the small community of Ange, in northern Sweden, to Timra, a couple hours east by car on the coast of the Baltic Sea.

Ange, where Pettersson first learned to skate and got plenty of ice time thanks to his dad driving the Zamboni at the local rink, didn’t have a junior team.

His first season in Vancouver has been a whirlwind. He made the team out of training camp, but the club has been on the road so much over the first two months of the season, he’s only now getting acquainted with Vancouver.

The travel, he was used to that from long bus rides in Sweden. The rest, much of it is new.

We sat down with the 20-year-old Swede to find out a little more about who he is off the ice.

Q What was the first thing you realized that you needed to figure out when you moved into your own place as a teenager?

A The biggest was you had to plan your dinners and what you were eating. Growing up, you could play video games or whatever and then your mother said, “Food is ready,” then you’d go to practice. Now, you’d have to think (about food) before practice.

Q What’s the first thing you learned to cook?

A I think it was chicken in the oven, with steamed rice.

Q Do you have a favourite food now?

A Steak.

Q Do you still play video games? Do you have a favourite?

A Yes. Fortnite.

Q You were living in a hotel during training camp. How about now?

A I live in an apartment now, close to everything, close to teammates too.

Q How does living in Vancouver compare to living in Sweden?

A Biggest city I’ve lived in. I’m starting to learn the city more and more. I like living here, it’s not getting too cold. That’s good. I’m used to it being super cold in the winter.

Q After getting home from practice, what’s the first thing you do?

A: Call home, friends and family. Say if I come home at 1 p.m., it’s 10 p.m. at home, so every time I get home, I try to talk to my parents and my friends, because they’re probably going to bed.

Q Every day? A Yes, every day.

Q What do you talk about with your parents?

A Who I played with in practice. Who I might play with next game. Otherwise, it’s just nice to hear their voices. Talking to my parents, it’s nice. About what’s new for me, new for them. Keeping up to date.

Q How do you spend your down time?

A Mostly video games and sometimes I go shopping. Hang out with friends, doing the things other (people) do I guess. Having fun. Chilling.