Chicago Wolves rookie Lucas Elvenes finds consolation in group of European hockey gamers

Lucas Elvenes moved to america this 12 months to realize his lifelong dream of enjoying within the NHL.
It hasn’t all the time been a simple transition from Sweden to america for Elvenes, who turned 20 in August. He vastly misses his household, however he finds consolation in having proper wing Jonas Rondbjerg, who’s from Denmark, as his roommate. He additionally has a buddy in Wolves veteran goalie Oscar Dansk, who’s from Sweden, too.
‘‘As quickly as you begin to know the blokes right here, you nearly get used to it faster,’’ stated Elvenes, who as a rookie leads the Wolves in factors with 29. ‘‘[Rondbjerg and Dansk] are making it simpler for me. And each man on the staff can also be very good. And so it’s fairly much like again dwelling, and after a when you get used to it.’’
It’s additionally comforting to know Blackhawks defenseman Adam Boqvist is barely a cellphone name and a brief prepare trip away.
Boqvist and Elvenes have identified one another for a number of years, however they grew to become shut buddies whereas serving to Staff Sweden win the silver medal on the World Junior Championship final December in New York.
‘‘He’s a superb man; he’s so humorous,’’ Boqvist stated of Elvenes. ‘‘At all times while you’re with him, you snigger. He’s a extremely good man, and I see him heating up within the AHL, as effectively. So hopefully he will get the prospect to play in Vegas quickly.’’
‘‘We’re excellent buddies,’’ Elvenes stated. ‘‘When he performs right here, we all the time speak and we all the time attempt to determine a while [to get together] and eat dinner or one thing. However I’m glad he’s near me.’’
Boqvist and Elvenes had the prospect to catch up briefly after a Wolves-IceHogs recreation earlier this season.
‘‘That point you don’t have that a lot time to do stuff,’’ Boqvist stated. ‘‘You simply need to calm down, possibly go for a stroll. However possibly quickly we are going to catch up.’’
Elvenes, who has emerged this season as one of many high rookies within the AHL, joined the Solar-Instances within the Chat Room this week.
It’s your first season with the Wolves. How are issues going?
Lucas Elvenes: ‘‘I feel we began off fairly robust. Now we have loads of new guys on the staff, they usually simply needed to get a really feel for what it’s prefer to play on the professional degree. And proper now, since we’ve gotten into it, I feel we’re doing higher and higher for each recreation. And we’ve discovered a staff chemistry and preserve profitable video games.’’
What was the most important adjustment you needed to make?
LE: ‘‘It’s the scale of the ice. Again dwelling, we’ve a a lot larger ice. Right here, you’re near the nets on a regular basis. Gamers are larger and more durable than dwelling, so there’s loads of issues you must get used to. However as quickly as you get used to it, you simply carry on going.’’
European hockey gamers are typically extra skillful or have extra finesse to their recreation, whereas Individuals are historically extra aggressive. How did you alter to the physicality of the AHL?
LE: ‘‘I agree. Right here, you’re easier with the puck. You’re doing the primary simple factor with the puck. Again dwelling, you’re nearly looking for a play on a regular basis. Right here, you could have one man on you on a regular basis due to the ice, and all of the gamers listed below are so good. So, yeah, as I stated, it’s a distinct type right here.’’
Was it troublesome to make that transition?
LE: ‘‘Yeah. We began off with camp in Vegas, and that’s a superb factor to have first while you come over right here [because] you will get used to it. After that, I’ve been speaking to the coach, Rocky [Thompson], and gamers I play with, they usually train me new stuff on a regular basis. So I’m actually grateful for that.’’
When did you begin enjoying hockey?
LE: ‘‘It began out with my dad. My dad performed till he was 40, I feel. And he simply, after I was three years previous, he put me in skates. That’s after I began to like the game. And my brother [Ludvig] additionally performed it. So I wished to be like him after I was youthful. That’s why.’’
What’s your favourite reminiscence of enjoying hockey as a child?
LE: ‘‘I feel enjoying with my brother is my favourite reminiscence. Simply to be on the ice with him and share recollections and all that with him, it’s the very best factor that I’ve ever had on the rink.’’
Who’re some gamers you look as much as?
LE: ‘‘That was my brother, too. The entire stuff he did, I wished to do, too. And when he was youthful and likewise proper now, he’s nonetheless enjoying, he’s actually good. And he performed with the older guys on a regular basis, and I wished to try this, too, and see what he did. And so he was my position mannequin after I was youthful and nonetheless is.’’
What have you ever liked most about Chicago?
LE: ‘‘That’s arduous. . . . I actually like downtown; I find it irresistible. It’s actually completely different from again dwelling with all of the excessive buildings and issues like that. I feel it’s actually cool.’’
Any hobbies you get pleasure from?
LE: ‘‘I actually love music. I don’t play any music, however I really like listening to music and hanging out with my buddies. That’s all I do after I’m not enjoying hockey.’’
Who’re a few of your favourite artists?
LE: ‘‘I actually love rap. I don’t have a particular artist, however I simply love rap.’’
Do you like cardio or weightlifting?
LE: ‘‘Weightlift . . . cardio, that’s robust. That’s too robust.’’
Contributing: Ben Pope