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Bergesen's Sights Set on Olympics

laura rollins
·4 min read

Emma Bergesen has packed a lot of hockey experiences into her 25 years. The game has taken her from Norway to Ottawa, Calgary, and now to Stockholm. If things go to plan, her journey could continue to the Olympics, the PWHL and beyond.

Born and raised in Stavanger, Norway, she left home at the age of 17 to pursue her hockey dreams in Canada. Her first stop was at the Ontario Hockey Academy in Cornwall, Ontario, where she put together two solid seasons while learning to adapt to life in North America. A quick, deceptive, offensive-minded defender, Bergesen had a handful of college offers out of OHA, but none felt like the right fit. When Mount Royal University presented her with an opportunity to play USports hockey in Calgary, she took it. Just two seasons later, MRU won the national championship as Bergesen memorably scored the overtime game-winner in the final to topple Concordia University 4-3.

Following her graduation from MRU, Bergesen elected to continue her hockey journey with SDE of the SDHL this season. She has had to readjust to the larger ice surface. “Even though I am used to playing on bigger ice with the national team, it was an adjustment to go from the smaller ice in Canada back to the bigger surface in Sweden. [The bigger ice] allows me to have more time [to make decisions] with the puck, but it also allows my opponents more room to move, making it a bit more challenging to defend and control the gap.” One thing she has come to appreciate is the SDHL’s body checking rules, which allow more contact and a more physical game, “I thought I was going to have mixed feelings about the hitting, but I have really liked it so far,” said Bergesen, who has never been one to shy away from the rougher aspects of hockey.

Between leaving home as a teenager and arriving in Sweden as a seasoned defender seven years later, the defender stacked up awards and accolades. Among them:

  • U Sports All-Rookie Team (2020)

  • IIHF World Championship Division 1A Best Defenseman (2021)

  • World Championship Most Points By a Defenseman (2021)

  • World Championship Most Assists By a Defenseman (2022, 2024)

  • Canada West Best Defenceman (2022-2023)

  • Gull Pucken, Norwegian Player of the Year (2022-2023)

  • USports Champion (2022-2023)

  • Mount Royal University All-Time Leading Defenceman in Goals, Assists, Points, Points Per Game, Goals in a Single Season, Assists in Single Season

  • USports First Team All-Canadian (2023-2024)

  • World Championship Division 1A Gold Medal (2024)

It is no surprise that Emma Bergesen’s name has consistently come up in conversations about PWHL draft-eligible players currently playing in Europe. Her vision, offensive flair, competitiveness and ability to adapt are traits that teams covet. “It would be surreal to play in front of thousands of spectators every game,” said Bergesen. “The skill level and speed in the PWHL is something that fascinates me. To get to that level, I have work to do. I think the SDHL is a good fit for me right now to develop and be even more prepared if the opportunity arises.”

She would not be the first defender to jump from USports or SDHL success to the PWHL. Fellow Canada West alumna Rylind MacKinnon has two points and is +2 in nine appearances for the Toronto Sceptres this season. “I think there are a lot of players in USports that are ready to play professionally. I am hoping that with [MacKinnon and Concordia University alumna Emmy Fecteau] playing in the PWHL, USports will get more recognition.” Meanwhile, SDHL-developed Ronja Savolainen has been turning heads on the Ottawa Charge blue line since being drafted eighth overall out of Luleå in June. “The individual skill level is higher in Sweden,” said Bergesen, “which requires me as a defender to be more alert to different plays and moves. There is a wider range of age in SDHL compared to USports. I have found it interesting playing against more mature players, that have been in the game for a longer time and that have a lot of experience both in the league but also internationally. They challenge me to read the game faster and at a higher level to make the best possible decisions.”

Bergesen’s slew of achievements have only made her hungrier for more. “My next big goal is to make it to the Olympics with Team Norway,” said Bergesen. Not long ago, Norwegian players “dreamed” of qualifying for the Olympics, and of returning to the top division of the Women’s World Championships. Emma Bergesen’s generation, conversely, sets and attains goals. Indeed, Norway finally won their gold at the 2024 Division 1A World Championships, and are ready to compete at the top level in Czechia this April. It will be the first time a Norwegian team has been in the top group since 1997, two years before Bergesen was born.

Norway will compete in the Final Olympic Qualification Round in February. Their group will play in Gävle, Sweden, and consists of four teams: Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. The winner of the Round Robin tournament will punch their ticket to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.