Legendary Swedish hockey player Mats Sundin: biography and sports career

Mats Sundin, whose biography is presented in this article, is a famous Swedish hockey player who played in the position of the central striker. He became a three-time world champion and gold medal winner of the 2006 Olympics. Included in the IIHF Hall of Fame.

Biography

Sundin Mats Johan was born in February 1971 in the small town of Bromma, located in close proximity to Stockholm. Initially, the future NHL star was engaged in bandy - hockey, but later switched to the more popular form of this sport.

Already from adolescence, experts predicted a brilliant sports career for him. At that time Mats Sundin played for "Djurgården", in which he passed from the junior to the adult team. With its relatively large dimensions, the center forward possessed excellent speed and technique.

In 1989, Sundin was drafted for the NHL, where for the first time in the history of Swedish and European hockey he was selected under the first number by the Canadian club Quebec Nordics.

However, the 19-year-old striker remained for one more season in "Djurgården". This year, he became the champion of Sweden, excellently showing up in the playoff series.

Traveling across the ocean

Since the autumn of 1990 Mats Sundin - hockey player "Quebec Nordics". Despite the "unlucky" 13th number, the Swedish central striker quickly took root in the NHL.

In the first season he played in 80 matches, in which he scored 23 goals and gave 36 assists. With these indicators, he became the second most effective player in his team.

Over the next three seasons, the Swedish striker, nicknamed Suddenly among the fans, became one of the leaders of Quebec Nordics. In 224 fights held, Sundin scored 275 (103 + 172) points.

Going to the "Toronto Maple Leafs"

In 1994, one of the most titled hockey clubs in the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired a young Swedish striker as a result of a massive exchange, which was soon to become one of the team's legends. Since the regular NHL draw was shortened because of the lockout, Mats Sundin in the "Maple Leaf" held 47 fights, in which he scored 47 (23 + 24) balls.

Next season the Swedish hockey player began as a team vice-captain. In the regular season, Sundin played 76 games, scored 33 goals and made 50 assists. Such indicators allowed him for the first time to take part in the All-Star Game of the NHL.

After leaving in 1997 from the team of her captain Doug Gilmour "Toronto Maple Leafs" began to bring to the game Sundin. He became the first captain of the European club for many years.

Over the next 11 years, "Captain Capture" was the unchallenged leader in his performance team. He never scored less than 70 points for 10 regular NHL drawings. In 2006, Sundin Mats became the first Swede to score 500 goals, and a year later he set the bombardier record of "Maple Leaf", having scored 400 times for them.

Due to its excellent performance, the Swedish striker became the participant of the Match of all NHL stars eight times. Four times he was awarded "Viking Evord" - the award to the best player from Sweden. In 2002 and 2004 he was included in the symbolic team of all NHL stars. In 2008, "Captain Capture" for his leadership qualities became the winner of the Mercier prize.

Change of command and completion of career

When the contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs ended in 2008, Mats Sundin doubted whether he should continue his career. After a brief reflection, the 37-year-old legendary hockey player signed a one-year contract with Vancouver Canucks. In its composition, the Swedish veteran had 41 bouts, scored 9 goals and gave 19 assists.

In February 2009, he played in Toronto against his former team. In this game, "Vancouver Canucks" won in the shootout series, and the winning throw was made by the Swedish player. In September 2009, Mats Sundin finished his playing career.

In 2012, the legend of Swedish hockey took the post of adviser on sports issues in the coaching staff of his team. At the World Cup 2013 he joined the coaching staff of the national team.

National team appearances

Since 1988, Mats Sundin was regularly called first in the youth, and then in the youth team of Sweden. In 1990, he made his debut in the country's main team at the World Championships, where he became a silver medalist.

A year later, Sweden wins the world championship. Sundin played in all ten fights, scored 7 goals and made 5 assists. In total, Mats won seven medals in the world championships, three of which were gold medals. Beginning in 1996, he became the unchanged captain of the "Tre Kronur".

At the 2006 Olympics in Turin Mats Sundin won the medal at the third attempt, and immediately gold. In eight matches played at the Games, he scored three goals and five assisted his teammates. In the final game against Finland, his magnificent pass to Niklas Lindstrom decided the outcome of the match and the fate of the gold medals.

After the victorious Olympics, Mats Sundin said goodbye to the national team of Sweden, which he returned to after several years, but already as an assistant coach.