Samuel Ersson is nearing his 25th birthday, yet he carries the wisdom of someone with significantly more experience.
As the Flyers’ goaltender, Ersson stepped into the No. 1 role last season when he took over for Carter Hart around the midpoint of the year. Hart is currently a free agent awaiting legal proceedings related to a group sexual assault allegation involving him and some members of Canada’s 2018 national team.
On Friday, Ersson was poised to launch the Flyers’ new season, likely taking on the team’s most pivotal role. Many believe that starting the season from the beginning can provide an athlete with a sense of stability and comfort—a task that Ersson understands is tied to his responsibility to secure wins.
During practice, he expressed that he was not experiencing significant nerves for the upcoming game.
“I think everyone gets excited,” Ersson noted. “A little bit of nerves can be a good thing. When you’re excited, it keeps you alert. We’ve been looking forward to the season opener for a long time.”
Considering the situation, Ersson had a respectable performance during the 2023-24 season, participating in 51 games and finishing with a record of 23 wins, 19 losses, and 7 overtime losses, alongside a goals-against average of 2.82.
One area for potential improvement is his save percentage, which was at .890; goalies generally aim for at least .900.
Ersson reflected positively on the recently concluded training camp, noting that he faced plenty of challenges in practice, especially from younger players like Matvei Michkov.
Michkov has proven to be a fierce competitor, not just content with taking initial shots but is also relentless in pursuing rebounds.
“He creates a few more rebounds than I prefer in some drills,” Ersson admitted with a smile. “But that’s a positive trait of good goal-scorers. They don’t give up easily. Even after you stop two rebounds, they still want to find the back of the net.
“It’s a mental game, and it works both ways for me.”
He embraces the competitive spirit brought by teammates like Michkov, as he believes that challenging oneself against top talent is essential for growth.
“You want to have that competition in practice,” he said. “It’s beneficial. They elevate my game, and I aim to do the same for them.”
While Ersson may appear calm on the surface, he experiences a range of emotions underneath.
He draws inspiration from former Flyer Ron Hextall, who carried a noticeable edge during games that remained evident in practices.
Ersson conveys that he experiences moments of frustration but works to not let them affect his performance. After a goal slips by, he allows himself a fleeting moment to react and then quickly moves forward.
“There’s a lot of emotion involved in the game,” said Ersson, a fifth-round draft pick (143rd overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft. “At times, it can overwhelm you.
“It’s important to maintain an even keel. You know challenges will arise and pucks will get past you, so you have to learn to cope with that.
“I strive to keep my emotions steady.”