Trying to fill the shoes of someone can be difficult.
The expectations to achieve something great can be daunting, especially when they come from a family member. For Wheeling Nailers defenseman Mats Lindgren, it’s about trying to step into his father’s shoes.
Mats Lindgren began his hockey career after being drafted by the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League’s Bantam Draft. He was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 draft. Lindgren made his first appearance for the Blazers at the end of the 2019-2020 season, playing four games.
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Slap Shots
Name: Mats Lindgren Position: Defenseman Career Games: 57
Points: 18 Nationality: Canadian and Swedish
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At that time, Kamloops was in first place in the British Columbia division before the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The next season, the WHL was still under COVID-19 protocols, and team schedules were limited across the league. The Kamloops Blazers played 22 games that season, and Lindgren played all 22 games. He finished the season with a single goal and nine assists. The Blazers finished with an impressive record of 18 wins and four losses.
There were no playoffs this season, but if there had been, Kamloops would have been a tough out.
The 2021-2022 season marked the WHL’s return to a normal format. Lindgren had a career season with the Blazers, playing in every game and finishing with five goals and 39 assists. He also ended the season with a plus-25 rating, ranking as the Blazers’ second-leading defenseman in scoring.
Kamloops clinched the British Columbia division title with 99 points, nine more than the second-place team. The Blazers were set to face the Spokane Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs, where they swept Spokane in four games, including a nine-to-zero victory in game one. The next round posed a greater challenge as they faced the Vancouver Giants. This series extended to six games, but Kamloops prevailed. In the semi-finals, the Blazers confronted the Seattle Thunderbirds, with the series going the full seven games and featuring two overtime matches.
Seattle won game seven on the road, ending Kamloops’ season. Lindgren played in 17 postseason games for the Blazers, recording seven assists and a plus-13 rating.
The ensuing offseason was a busy one for Lindgren. First, he was eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Level Draft. Lindgren would be selected in the fourth round by the Buffalo Sabers. He would ultimately not sign with Buffalo a few years down the line. Also, he would be traded in the WHL to the Red Deer Rebels. The move was a surprising one by some.
The 2022-2023 season saw Lindgren play 63 games for his new team. He achieved a career-high of 11 goals, along with 23 assists. Lindgren’s plus-11 rating ranked him among the top half of the Rebels’ defenders. Red Deer clinched the Central Division with 92 points, 14 points ahead of the second-place team.
The Rebels faced the Calgary Hitmen in the first round, with Red Deer closing out the series with an overtime victory in game five to advance to the next round. They got off to a hot start in round two against the Saskatoon Blades, winning the first three games of the series until things went awry.
The Blades executed a reverse sweep against the Rebels, winning the last four games and eliminating Red Deer. In 12 postseason matchups, Lindgren finished with nine points, two of which were goals.
The next season would be Lindgren’s final one in major junior hockey. Nevertheless, while with Red Deer, he played in 63 games. Lindgren remained consistent on defense, finishing with seven goals and 34 assists for a total of 41 points.
He led the Rebels in scoring among defensemen and ranked tied for fifth-best on the team. Red Deer secured third place in the Central Division, which was enough to qualify for the playoffs. In the first round, the Rebels faced the Medicine Hat Tigers as underdogs.
The Rebels and Tigers split the first two games before Red Deer won the next three, pulling off the upset. In the second round, Lindgren and the Rebels entered as even bigger underdogs against the WHL’s top-ranked Saskatoon Blades. Unfortunately, there was no upset this time, as the Blades swept the Rebels, ending their season.
Lindgren finished with five points in their nine games played.
In the summer of 2024, Lindgren decided to turn pro at the age of 20. He would sign a contract with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.
“It’s an organization led by great people. That was a big part in making sure I was in a good spot and where my development would flourish,” Lindgren said on why Wilkes-Barre Scranton was the team with which he signed.
Lindgren has played seven games with the “Baby Pens” this season but has mostly spent his time with their ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers. In 50 games wearing a Wheeling uniform, he has scored six goals and tallied 12 assists. Lindgren was also tied for the Plus Performer of the Month in November for the ECHL.
“So many good guys. I love this team; every single guy has been great to me. Being a really young guy, it’s been awesome. They’ve taken me in, and they just made me part of the group, and it’s been so great. I couldn’t have wished for anything better,” Lindgren said about his time in Wheeling.
Lindgren is just at the start of trying to fill those big shoes of his dad with the same name, but you must start somewhere.
The Kelly Cup Playoff-bound Wheeling Nailers will wrap up their home schedule with two more games this evening and tomorrow afternoon, both against the Reading Royals.
This evening at Wesbanco Arena welcomes the highly anticipated “Wizards and Wands” night, complete with a wand giveaway, “Butter Beer,” and chocolate frogs. During the game, sit with your house, try on the sorting hat, and enjoy “quidditch” during the intermissions.
Additionally, there will be a “Jerseys Off Their Backs” auction, where you can snag one of the Nailers’ Vegas gold alternate jerseys.
To complete the team’s final regular-season weekend, Sunday at 4:10 p.m. is Fan Appreciation Day, offering deals and giveaways for everyone in attendance. Plus, there will be a full team postgame skate as well. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 304-234-GOAL or visit www.wheelingnailers.com.
The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Upper Ohio Valley.
