Taylor Matson alone in having been on Rögle’s long journey

On July 28, 2014, a 25-year-old Taylor Matson arrived in Rögle from the ECHL team Orlando Solar Bears. He quickly became a popular player in the organization and has been loyal to the club ever since.

From Rögle’s team in the 2014/15 season, only Taylor Matson and Niklas Hansson remain. But while Hansson has been in HV71 and AHL, Matson has been part of the whole journey, which began in the second division and is now in the club’s first Swedish Championship final of all time.

Did you see this in front of you when you came here?

– No not at all. My goal was just to help the team get to the SHL. We tried to establish ourselves in the league for many years after that, finished third last season and have built on that. It’s crazy when you think about where we were seven years ago compared to now, says Taylor Matson.

You’re the only one who’s been with us all the way. Can you put your business in some kind of perspective?

– It has not really struck me yet. But it’s an unreal feeling and unreal how hard we fought to get here. It is a good rating for the coaches and everyone in the organization. I am very grateful to be part of this journey.

Taylor Matson has experienced everything from the inner circle. We ask him to describe his experience of Rögle’s historical success.

– It is difficult to put it into words. But as soon as Chris and Cam (Abbott) came here, they had a goal to take this club to the top. It has been possible to see from the passion that we wanted to do something special and that we have everything that is required. We have many guys from Ängelholm who have come home and a good group who want to win for each other.

When Cam (coach) and Chris (sports director) came in in 2017, many people probably thought they were completely crazy talking about winning Swedish Championship gold. When did you start thinking it was serious?

– I think we were last in the table when they came and finished on safe ground. After that we started buying good players and we have always had a strong group that believes in what we do. We came to the playoffs against HV71 and started to get the feeling that something special could happen. Last season, the top six was a big goal and we finished third. Then we felt that we were close to what we wanted to achieve.

In the way of the Swedish Championship gold, Växjö now stands in the best of seven matches. Taylor Matson, who is on an outgoing contract, has played an important role in the playoffs and is rising another level.

Have you ever been this good?

– I have always seen myself as a playoff player. My character traits fit into playoff hockey and that’s something I grow out of. We work hard together in the chain, create goal chances and usually start the matches. Hopefully it continues towards Växjö.

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