The ISU hockey team, already one of the most culturally diverse athletic squads at ISU, recently welcomed Swedish coach Markus Olsson, a new assistant to head coach Al Murdoch for the ’96-’97 season.

“I consider Markus to be one of the top coaches in the world,” Murdoch said. “We’re very fortunate to have him with us.”

Olsson, 27, was offered a top-level coaching position in Sweden but chose to come to ISU and work with Murdoch, whom he met three years ago at Murdoch’s hockey camp in Ames. Olsson has helped Murdoch with the camp each year since then. “I wanted North American experience,” Olsson said. “Hockey is much different here than in Sweden.”

Olsson said the distinctions between American hockey and Swedish hockey are clear.

“Over here, the game is played more physically than in Sweden,” Olsson said. “American and Canadian players always go to the net and take lots of shots,” Olsson said, “but in Sweden we play more of a tactical game. We set up the play and try to find the open man.”

Olsson hopes to integrate part of the Swedish style with the Cyclones this season. “The players here are already very good,” Olsson said. “They have good speed and are eager to learn and work hard.”

Murdoch said that Olsson was exactly what was needed for fine tuning an already solid team. “He has a good eye for spotting areas that need improving,” Murdoch said. “He’s also very good at putting different units together, especially with special teams.”

Olsson, a native of Solleftea, began perfecting his coaching skills at the young age of 20. Most of his experience has come from coaching division two hockey in Sweden.

Swedish hockey is divided into seven levels with level one consisting of the best players in the country. Level one is comparable to the National Hockey League here in North America.

Swedish hockey is organized in a very different way from American hockey. Swedish teams can move from one level to the next depending on performance.

“In Sweden, if a level three team finishes as the top team, then they move up to level two for the next season,” Olsson said.

The system works both ways. If a team finishes last in its level, then it moves down to the next level.

Olsson has also coached a state-level all-star team that competed nationally. This season Olsson is looking forward to national competition again with the Cyclones in March at the national tournament.

“I’m very sure we will make it to nationals and I think we will do very well,” Olsson said. “I would really like to go to Sweden with a ring.”