| HISTORY |
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2001-02:
- Father Sven and brother Jimmie also play hockey in Sweden.
- Spent season with Hasten's junior team (who did not qualify for Sweden's junior elite level).
- The natural center was used on the blue line for one game and stole the show.
- Scout Hakan Andersson happened to be watching and convinced Ericsson to switch permanently.
- Ended up being picked by Detroit with the last selection of the entire draft.
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2002-03:
- Became a regular in Sweden's third-tier league (49-2-4-6, 49 shots, even plus-minus).
- Also played occasionally for Hasten's junior quad.
- Showed enough promise to earn two-year contract with Sodertalje of the Swedish Elite League.
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2003-04:
- Made jump to Swedish Elite League with Sodertalje, but used primarily as a center.
- Saw limited ice time, but had a goal and a minus-8 while winning 46 percent of 119 faceoffs.
- Got ice time as a defenseman at the J-20 level for Sodertalje (16-3-4-7, plus-9).
- Wasn't named to Sweden's WJC roster, one that finished seventh at the tournament.
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2004-05:
- Spent most of year as defenseman with Huddinge at Sweden's second level (24-4-7-11, minus-5).
- Also played 15 games, mostly at the center position, with Sodertalje of Swedish Elite League.
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2005-06:
- Saw spot duty on Sodertalje blue line in Swedish Elite League (24-0-0-0, 11 shots, minus-7).
- Had one assist in seven games as Sodertalje demoted to Sweden's second level for 2006-07.
- Signed two-year entry-level contract with Detroit.
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2006-07:
- Appeared in four NHL pre-season games with Detroit (4-0-0-0).
- Shocked everyone with terrific AHL rookie year in Grand Rapids (67-5-24-29, plus-5, 102 PIMs).
- Tied for scoring lead among all Grand Rapids defensemen.
- Started season on surprising scoring pace (36-4-18-22) but hit wall in second half (31-1-6-7).
- Grand Rapids went 37-32-6-5, grabbing Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.
- Held off scoresheet (7-0-0-0) in seven-game first-round playoff loss to Manitoba.
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