Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Ekman akapedza makore ake okutanga achitamba munyika yokumusha kwake Sweden. Mumwaka wa1993-94, mushure mekurova zvibodzwa zvina uye zvishanu zvinobatsira mumitambo gumi nerimwe yeHamarby IF muSweden Junior League, Ekman akadaidzwa kuchikwata chevabereki muSweden tier 2-league HockeyAllsvenskan, kwaakarova mapoinzi mapfumbamwe mumitambo gumi nemasere. Achibata ziso reCalgary Flames, akasarudzwa nechikwata muna 1994 NHL Entry Draft
mumutambo wechishanu sechisarudzo chechi107 chose chose. Mumwaka wa1994-95, mushure memutambo mupfupi wemitambo miviri muSweden junior ligi, akaunganidza zvibodzwa gumi uye zvinomwe zvinobatsira mumitambo makumi maviri nemapfumbamwe yekirabhu yemubereki. Pashure perimwe gore muHamarby, apo akawana 9 vavariro uye akabatanidza 7 anobatsira mumitambo 26, akaenda kunotamba muFinland.