Tuesday night, Senators’ captain Erik Karlsson was held out of Ottawa’s game against the Florida Panthers. The Senators announced in the lead up to the game that Erik and Melinda Karlsson lost their son one month before his due date.
“The collective thoughts and prayers of the Ottawa Senators organization, the city of Ottawa and entire hockey community rest with Erik and Melinda Karlsson following the loss of their son,” the Senators said in a statement.
On Wednesday, the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman shared a heartbreaking message on Twitter.
Karlsson wrote:
At this extremely difficult time it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel but we know one day we’ll get there. We would like to thank everyone for the love and support we have received and also for respecting our privacy and the process that we need to go through.
We feel very lucky to be Axel’s parents. Even though he was stillborn, we know we will hold him again one day under different circumstances and the joy he gave us will be with us forever.
Erik & Melinda Karlsson
An hour after tweeting, Karlsson’s message had already received over 11,000 interactions and 550 personal well wishes from fans and players alike.
— Erik Karlsson (@ErikKarlsson65) March 21, 2018
On Instagram, Karlsson shared a photo of their stillborn son’s two footprints with his full name Axel Michael Karlsson.
In February, Karlsson had previously shared a photo with his hand on his wife’s belly. “Just me and my little family.:) #dadhat”
He also shared a photo of the ultrasound in November.
Axel would have been Karlsson’s first child.
Our hearts go out to the Karlsson family during this difficult time and anyone who has lost a son or daughter during pregnancy.
