Ehlers ecstatic to help Denmark qualify for first Olympic spot

The excitement was still noticeable in Nikolaj Ehlers' voice more than 48 hours after he was part of a historical achievement for his home country.
Thanks to victories over Slovenia, Korea, and Norway over a four-day period, Denmark will compete in men's hockey at the Olympics for the first time.
"It was emotional. It was one of the best feelings I've ever had," Ehlers said, recalling the final seconds ticking off the clock in the Olympics clinching 2-0 win over Norway.
Ehlers scored the insurance marker in that game with 3:12 remaining in regulation, his ninth point in the three-game Olympic qualifying tournament.
"Being able to go out there and show that we deserve a spot at the Olympics and actually making it, that was pretty amazing," said Ehlers. "We were all pretty pumped about it, and we're proud of it too."

Denmark joined the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1946. When the country makes its hockey debut in the 2022 Olympic Games Beijing, China, they'll be in Group B with the defending gold medalists from Russia, as well as Switzerland and Czech Republic.

Earning this spot has been the result of consistent growth in the game over the last number of years. Ehlers was part of the Denmark squad that won its first game at the top level of the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2015.
Ehlers had four points in five games at that tournament, and has now represented his country at Under-18s (Division 1A), the World Juniors (Division 1A and the top level), and the World Championship.
He's been one of the central figures of the growing amount of success Denmark has had at all those levels. He was even named the country's top forward in consecutive years in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
"The growth that has happened the last six or seven years has been pretty incredible. We made the quarterfinals at the World Championship in 2016, we had the World Championship in Denmark in 2018, and at this year's World Championship we beat Sweden for the first time ever. Now we're going to the Olympics," said Ehlers. "What we're trying to do here with this team is make hockey bigger in Denmark."
Instagram from @ehlers27: Couldn't be more proud of this group 🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰 Olympics here we come🙏#2022
This team showed a commitment to doing just that. The country has 27 rinks with a population of 5,815,903. Of those people, the IIHF states that 5,147 play hockey at the male, female, and junior levels.
Seeing their country playing at the Olympics will be another step in growing all those numbers.
To earn that spot in Beijing though, the players on Denmark's roster also had to show a commitment to each other.
Throughout the summer, the group came together for four camps - each about three days in length - as a way to skate together, practice together, and grow together as a group.
"The commitment to go out and do that during the summer, there have been guys that flew in from outside of Denmark to come to these camps," said Ehlers. "Then we meet up a week before these Olympic qualifiers start. That doesn't happen often. The commitment everyone showed to this year, and now we finally got to make it, was pretty incredible."
Ehlers is confident that's what gave his group an edge.
"I'm really proud of what we've been able to do, but I'm even more proud of the commitment from the guys we had in the locker room," he said. "They become - as in Winnipeg - brothers to you pretty quick. I'm really proud of that team."
The 25-year-old Ehlers didn't actually have a brother on the team, but he had someone pretty close. His cousin, 24-year-old Alex True, played in all three qualifying games as well.
The two posed for a memorable photo on February 14, 2020 during warm-up as the Winnipeg Jets were preparing to take on the San Jose Sharks.

Since then, True was claimed in the NHL Expansion Draft by the Seattle Kraken. He'll be going back to the same city where he played his entire three-year junior hockey career with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.
"He's really excited to get back and get an opportunity to make the NHL," said Ehlers. "He's excited for the opportunity of meeting and getting to know a new team and all that. He hasn't been there yet, but it's going to be good for him."
As for Ehlers, he has his sights set on Jets training camp and getting to work with new additions like Brenden Dillon and Nate Schmidt.
"I believe in what we can do, especially looking back at last year. Even though we won the first round, there is still a lot of disappointment because we believed we could do more," said Ehlers. "So with these new guys coming in, I'm 100 percent sure they're going to help us get in the right direction. It's exciting for the whole team."
Until camp starts, he'll continue training and preparing to build on his nearly point-per-game performance from 2020-21.
It's been a good summer, and Ehlers is hoping it creates a ripple effect for hockey in Denmark years to come.
"Hopefully people get their eyes up for hockey in Denmark and get their kids, their girls and boys, to try out," Ehlers said. "We're pretty excited and proud of what we've been able to do and we're going to continue that."