Defenseman Tom Willander has steadily climbed the scouts’ ranking lists before the NHL draft and when the moment came, it was the Vancouver Canucks who called out the Stockholmer’s name as number eleven in the first round.
– Hearing your name read out is something you’ve dreamed of and worked for your whole life, Willander told NHL.com/sv on location at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. This is the start of a new chapter in my life and I’m just super excited and happy to be a part of Vancouver.
That it became the Canucks is something Willander does not mind at all, as he has followed the team’s progress in the NHL for a long time.
– Vancouver is actually the team that I started rooting for in the NHL. First and foremost because of Daniel and Henrik Sedin. They were so incredibly dominant on the ice. Now they are still in the organization, so it will be really cool to work with them at the development camp later.
Video: Tom Willander drafted by Vancouver Canucks
Willander, with Saltsjöbaden IF as the parent club, played last season in Rögle where he was mostly in the J20 team, but was in the squad in both the SHL and CHL. In the U18 WC in April, he was third among the defenders in the tournament with eight points (3+5) in seven games.
– We are very happy to have brought Tom with us, says Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin. He is a very mobile defender with a great game sense. He has impressed us with his maturity and determination.
– We have a lot of faith in Tom, says Vancouver’s chief scout Todd Harvey about Willander. We like everything about him. He has a phenomenal personality, which is reflected in the way he plays on the ice. He has all the conditions to be a really good player for us in the future.
The next step for Willander is that he is now leaving Swedish hockey to instead play college hockey with Boston University in the NCAA.
– The school contacted me and checked if I was interested. They were looking for a right-footed back and I felt that is the best solution for me. I still have a lot to develop in my game and I need to put on some weight. I will also improve my technique on all different levels and I think the NCAA is the right place to work on my game.
– I have heard that it is a good league with many tough and fun matches. I think playing in the NCAA will help me take the next step in my development. I am really looking forward to it.
– When we have talked about the upcoming season, it has been important to feel that he gets a lot of ice time in the games, says Allvin. Young, talented players don’t always get the minutes they deserve in Europe. At Boston University, he will have to take on a lot of responsibility and face really skilled opposition every game.
Something that Vancouver’s team management constantly returns to is Willander’s determination and willingness to train hard to achieve results.
– I am very competitive and always want to do what I can to win. It’s not always appreciated when I play board games with my sister for example, but on the ice I think it’s an advantage. I want to practice as much as possible to learn as much as possible. I think I play better when I practice a lot and there are always things to improve.
– Regarding the game on the ice, I try to watch Miro Heiskanen and imitate a lot of what he does, Willander continues. He’s a great two-way back and it feels like we have similar strengths in the game. He is strong on the skates and plays hard in his own zone. For me, my offense is what I need to work on the most right now and it’s something I look forward to working on in the future.
However, Allvin is not worried that the offense will become an obstacle in Willander’s continued progress in the rinks.
– He has played a lot of forward until just two years ago, so I think he has the ability to be more involved in the offensive in itself, says Allvin. Considering how he pours his soul into ice hockey and how he competes every day, we feel confident that he will make great strides.
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Tom Willander climbed the draft rankings at the end of the season and ended up with the Canucks. Eventually, he can also experience what it’s like to live and play in Vancouver. But first a little more hard work.
– The Canucks are a super-cool team and I’ve heard that Vancouver is a lovely city with great interest in hockey. There are many good players in the team and I am very proud to be part of the organization.
2023-06-29 21:18:05
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