Max Westergård: Great Spring in SHL

Swedish SHL has seen a small Finnish sensation in the spring.

Frölunda’s injuries opened to Finns Max Westergårdille17, for the SHL team composition.

The promising young man has taken his opportunity with two hands. Recently, he has been cooled in the team’s second chain in the semi -finals – and has risen to Swedish magazines.

On Wednesday, the first goal of the career in men’s games was created. It was a 3-1 lead in a match where Frölunda beat Luleå 5-3 and moved to a 2-1 lead in the semi-finals.

Friday Westergård fetched strongly Michael to Ruohoma 1-0 goal. Luleå eventually leveled the match wins to 2-2 in a match that ended in a hundred minutes, which ended 2-3.

Luleå now leads the series 3-2.

On March 4, the debut in the SHL roulette came in a home match against Rögle.

“It was one of the coolest moments in my life. Awesome experience. The first game, still in the home hall,” Westergård says now.

In the regular season, he played in another three matches without power points. So far, the playoffs have created 1+2 for ten games.

It has been easy to get involved in the team. Westergård has also succeeded in filling its place in the line -up. He’s not just hanging out.

“After all, it has been some kind of jumping in the twenties series, but I don’t know right. I’m just trying to play my own game. It’s not terribly to think about. I do my best and play. The level is tough, but this is just hockey.”

In Born in 2007, Westergård moved to Rauma shortly before his 14th anniversary when he switched to his hometown to Rauma and Lock in Tampere.

Father Jan-Erik Westergård says that many wondered their decision.

For natural reasons, a small town of Rauma has not been a well -known junior factory. In recent years, however, the club has scored a lot of juniors from other cities and has been successful in the youth series.

Westergårdiene did not need to regret the decision. Both father and son are very warm about the company and the city of Rauma.

A couple of years ago, however, they made the decision to go to Gothenburg and the very renowned club of Frölunda, which is one of the top European organizations. Westergård agents Antero Niittymäki and Michael Nylander gave information and helped with the decision.

The agreement also provided an option that Westergård could have returned to a familiar environment in Rauma and Lukko if he wished.

Although Lukko lost Westergård, sports director Kalle Sahlstedt has been happy to follow the development and play of a familiar young man in Sweden.

“Of course, he has grown and intensified, but when I have seen his game, he has not changed in any couple of years,” says Sahlstedt.

“Skating, skill and speed are damn hard. In his game there is also unpredictability. He may sometimes be a bit invisible, but every time he looks after the game, he has a really good ability to solve the games.”

According to Sahlstedt, Westergård has no actual weaknesses that would hit the eye. All the basics are in very good shape. When he was younger, he saw that this boy would grow up.

“Of course, he is still a young guy. But it is even a little incomprehensible how easy it is for his movement in the field. It’s been nice to follow.”

Sahlstedt points out that without injuries to Westergård would not have opened such a place in Frölunda.

But he has used his screen – even in a very tough SHL playoffs.

Westergård himself says he is good at skating and with a reel.

“I also think I have a pretty good game. I can read the game and find feeds. And even though I’m not the biggest or strong guy on the ice, I believe I can stay in the reel and be strong there,” he describes his own player profile.

Westergård Lives in Gothenburg with other players elsewhere in the same area. Father Jan-Erik praises the seamless collaboration between the club and the local sports high school, where the sports career is a priority and the school strives to adapt to it.

Although Westergård is Finnish -Swedish, the language at the very beginning posed small adaptation challenges. The Swedish and Gothenburg dialect are not exactly the same thing as Finnish Swedish.

“Even though I went to a Swedish -speaking school and could communicate with them a little, there were a bit of a problem at first. But yes, it learned it really fast and nowadays I speak Swedish with the guys,” Max Westergård says.

When asked about the differences between Sweden and Finland, Westergård’s answer is not very surprising. The observations are parallel to many other those who have followed the same route.

There is hard work in both countries. The conditions are in order.

But gaming is not as slavery in Sweden as in Finland.

“Maybe it’s a little more freer. Not too much on the board how everyone goes and skating. The cunts rely on,” what the guys do.

Mistakes can be made.

“It is not that if you make a mistake, it is very punished. You learn through them.”

Westergård It was also selected for the Little Lions team, which will travel to the Under 18th World Cup on Saturday. However, he is not yet involved in the race machine as the SHL continues.

“The situation is still a bit open. It is always looked at what happens,” Finland’s head coach Mikael Kotkaniemi says.

Kotkaniemi describes Westergård as a very dynamic player.

“The skating features are staggering. He may need a classic centralist who can rhythm and play the reel for him. Max is at his best,” Kotkaniemi describes.

“He is able to create situations through his movement. The strengths are such that he suits SHL well. The game is such a huge continuum that requires constant movement.”

Season After the summer, Westergård is also awaiting the NHL reservation. He says he is currently in the middle of games and does not sacrifice thoughts for the future in the draft.

Frölunda’s long -time head coach Roger Rönnberg recently outlined that Westergård, Mads Kongsbak Klivö and Ivar Stenberg They are in his eyes the top bookings of the first round. Gothenburg’s local media is also enthusiastic and it is believed that a Finn could be the number one round.

In the latest rankings of Central Scouting at the NHL’s Talent Findings Office, Westergård was 66th in the field players in Europe.

“He is a bit small (181 cm / 74 kg), which is, of course, a challenge. However, he has played really fine playoffs, and this season has been rising,” one Finnish NHL can see.

“In the early part of the season and at the national team events, he was not at the same level as now. Breaking in the Frölunda line -up is a tough thing. He can play there and not just survive.”

The talent finder goes on to say that, despite his skill, game and daring, Westergård is probably a player in the later booking rounds.

“I bet it goes up from the four round, even though he has played so well. Of course, the shares are on the rise.”

Westergård was born on September 3, so he is one of the youngest players in this summer’s booking age.

Next summer’s booking will be held from 27 to 28th. July in Los Angeles.