Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Mwaka wakatevera Karlsson akatamba muSweden yenyika yepasi pemakore gumi nemasere mu1982 IIHF European U18 Championship, achiwana mapoinzi maviri mumitambo mishanu uye kuhwina menduru yegoridhe. Karlsson akatambawo muSweden's national under-20 team muna 1983 zvichiteerana
1984 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Mumwaka wa1982/83, Karlsson akapihwa mukana wekutamba muModo Hockey yeElitserien, Sweden yepamusoro yechando hockey ligi. Mumwaka wake wokutanga miviri nechikwata haana kukwanisa kunwisa zvibodzwa, uye mumwaka wa1983/84 chikwata chakadzikiswa kuDivision 1. Zvisinei, Karlsson naModo vakakurumidza kukwidziridzwa kudzokera kuElitserien mwaka wakatevera.