{"id":388073,"date":"2026-01-03T07:45:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T07:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/388073\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T07:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T07:45:12","slug":"flames-rasmus-andersson-named-to-swedish-olympic-team-dream-come-true","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/388073\/","title":{"rendered":"Flames’ Rasmus Andersson named to Swedish Olympic team: ‘Dream come true’"},"content":{"rendered":"

At some point this season, it began to feel inevitable that Rasmus Andersson would be going to the Olympics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That didn\u2019t make it any less exciting for Andersson when he found out he\u2019d be playing for Sweden in Milano-Cortina in February.<\/p>\n

Then, he had to keep his mouth shut about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI found out about 10 days ago, it\u2019s been hard to keep it to yourself,\u201d Andersson said. \u201cExtremely proud and it\u2019s definitely a dream come true to play at the Olympics for Sweden. It\u2019s something I\u2019ve always wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andersson grew up on stories of his dad, Peter, representing Sweden at the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France.<\/p>\n

He can vividly remember when Sweden won gold at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy, with Swedish legends Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg combining to set up Nicklas Lidstrom for the game-winner against Finland.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Those are the \u201cthree big ones\u201d of Swedish hockey from his childhood, the legends he grew up idolizing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Naturally, it means the world that he has the chance to inspire the next generation of young Swedes when he dons the national team jersey at the biggest international tournament in a decade.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot,\u201d Andersson said. \u201cAs a kid growing up in Sweden, that was always your dream to play for the national team. Then, eventually the NHL came but you know, just the history around it, I kind of grew up on those \u201806 clips. It means the world to me, I\u2019m extremely excited.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen the game-winning goal probably a thousand times in my life. It\u2019s something we grew up on. I was nine years old at the time, the memory never really leaves. Since that day, I\u2019ve dreamt of playing in the Olympics one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andersson was included on the Swedish roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, so might have had the inside track for a place on the Olympic team. Still,, his 2024-25 season didn\u2019t end especially well, so there were no guarantees.<\/p>\n

His play this season made him a no-brainer for inclusion, though.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His eight goals and 18 assists have him third among Swedish blueliners in scoring this year, behind only Rasmus Dahlin and Erik Karlsson \u2014 and both of them have a worse plus\/minus than the +2 he has posted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole room is thrilled for him,\u201d Flames head coach Ryan Huska said. \u201cWhen you look at one guy who has had a ridiculously good year in all aspects of his game, (it\u2019s Andersson). I didn\u2019t really feel there was going to be any question whether he was going to be on that roster, but I assume for the player you\u2019re always a little uneasy because you never know until you see your name being put out there.<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really happy for him. I think he\u2019s done an excellent job. He\u2019s very deserving of it. We\u2019ll be cheering for Canada and cheering for Ras, too, if that makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

BASHA BACK TO JUNIOR<\/p>\n

Andrew Basha will be finishing the season with the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL.<\/p>\n

On Friday, the Calgary Wranglers re-assigned the 20-year-old winger to his junior team.<\/p>\n

Selected in the second round, 41st overall, of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Flames, Basha missed most of last year with an ankle injury that required surgery.<\/p>\n

This season, his first in the pros, the Calgary native had scored once and added four assists in 27 games in the AHL.<\/p>\n

daustin@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n

www.twitter.com\/DannyAustin_9<\/a><\/p>\n