Red Wings 2021 draft pick Liam Dower Nilsson and his brother, 2023 draft pick Noah, took part in this week’s 2023 Summer Development Camp, and the brothers spoke with NHL.com/sv’s Peter Ekholm about last week and this week’s adventures, as well as their respective focuses in terms of their future hockey plans:
The Dower Nilsson brothers are targeting the Red Wings
Liam and Noah were both drafted by Detroit–and they spent time together during the team’s summer development camp
Liam Dower Nilsson could hardly believe it was true when his little brother, Noah Dower Nilsson, was drafted by the Red Wings 73rd overall at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville.
Two years ago, Liam experienced the same thing when Detroit took him in the 5th round as the 134th overall pick in that draft.
“It was unbelievable. I didn’t dare believe that it could happen. But it was an incredibly feeling for me, my dad and grandfather who were there, and also for Noah, I suspect,” says Liam to NHL.com/sv.
Even Noah was quite surprised when it happened.
“You never know when you’ll be selected. But I have had a lot of contact with Detroit, and I had some idea that it could be like this. But it’s a crazy fun feeling, and very large,” Noah said after he was drafted.
Being drafted by the same team as his older brother is something very special, says Noah, who’s looked up to his brother Liam throughout his upbringing at home in Sweden.
“He’s meant a lot to me. He’s helped me a lot here, but also throughout my life, and he’s been a great support for me. He means a lot,” says Noah.
It’s been a week since the draft in Nashville, a special day for the Dower Nilssons. For Liam, it took a little extra to even make it to Bridgestone Arena to experience his brother’s draft day.
“Noah, my father and grandfather were already in Nashville. They had a good flight. But me, (Axel) Sandin Pellikka and our agent got stuck in New York. We stayed in a hotel and drove down the next day. It took 13-14 hours,” says Liam.
Liam, 20, and Noah, 18, were both brought up in hockey with Frolunda’s organization. It was also where they both played last season, though Liam was loaned to Vasteras for a while, and Noah got a lot of playing time on the J20 team. Now the brothers also belong to the same NHL organization. Over the past week, both have been in Detroit, Michigan for the Red Wings’ summer development camp.
“It’s just been fun. Just fun to be here in Detroit and train with so many good players,” says Noah.
For Noah, it’s his first development camp, and everything is new. With Liam being drafted two years ago, the older Dower Nilsson brother has more experience. For Noah, he’s therefore quite grateful to share a room with Liam.
“Whoever arranged the accommodations were kind enough to put us together. I got a text after Noah was drafted saying that I would probably get a new roommate, so it was kind of fun,” says Liam.
Even on the ice, Noah has learned a lot from his big brother, and it shows in the way he plays.
“We’re quite similar. I’m maybe more of an offensive winger, and Liam is more of a two-way center. I’ve learned a lot from him over the years. We always compete against each other,” says Noah.
Liam and Noah are also used to spending time together. Partly because they grew up together, but also from time to time in various hockey contexts.
“We played a few games on the junior team together, and last season, when Noah played in his first SHL game,” says Liam.
“My first shift in Frolunda was with Liam. It was pretty awesome. It was an exciting and nervous experience, but a lot of fun,” says Noah, who ended up playing three games with Frolunda in the SHl. Liam played 22 of 32 games with Vasteras in the HockeyAllsvenskan this past season.
Next season, however, it appears that they will have to spend the season in different places, though both expect to spend the 2023-2024 season in Sweden. Liam has been signed by the Allsvenskan team Bjorkloven, while Noah will try to start the season with Frolunda.
“I don’t know exactly how it will be, but I have trained with the A Team in Frolunda this summer. But it’s not certain yet,” Noah says.
Liam hopes to earn a leading role in the SHL by betting on Bjorkloven.
“I’m moving from Frolunda to Bjorkloven. I’m going to try to earn a big role there and play my game, focus on getting better and getting back to being the player I was in junior hockey. It feels like I have more offense in me, which I haven’t shown in the past two years, especially the last one. But it will be good for me,” says Liam.
Their immediate future involves playing in Sweden, but in a few years, a Swedish pair of brothers could be playing together with the Red Wings.
