Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Ekman nọrọ afọ ndị ọ na-etolite na-egwuri egwu n'obodo ya bụ Sweden. N'oge 1993-94, mgbe o mechara ihe mgbaru ọsọ anọ na ise na-enye aka na egwuregwu iri na otu maka Hammarby IF na Swedish Junior League, a kpọrọ Ekman ka ọ gaa n'ụlọ nne na nna na HockeyAllsvenskan nke Swedish, ebe o nwetara isi itoolu na egwuregwu 18. N'ịbụ onye ndị Calgary Flames hụrụ, ndị otu ahụ họpụtara ya na
1994 NHL Entry Draft na agba nke ise dị ka nhọrọ 107 n'ozuzu. N'oge 1994-95, mgbe obere oge egwuregwu abụọ na Swedish junior league, o gbakọtara ihe mgbaru ọsọ 10 na 7 na-enyere aka na egwuregwu 29 maka ụlọ nna ya. Mgbe otu afọ ọzọ na Hammarby, ebe ọ gbara goolu 9 ma nye 7 aka na egwuregwu 26, ọ gara igwu egwu na Finland.