The player drafted 7th overall by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft says it was a crazy draft day, but he is grateful to be selected by the organization.

Mats Lindgren out of the Burnaby Winter Club considers himself to be an offensive defenseman.

“I like to make plays offensively and defensively,” he said. “I think one of my big strengths is my skating, using it to get out of bad situations and just to make plays.”

Asked who he tries to emulate in his game after, he said Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks and Miro Heiskanen, of the Dallas Stars.

“I think they are very good offensive defensemen who make really good plays,” Lindgren said.

Lindgren is committed to play NCAA Hockey at the University of Michigan, and says he will have a difficult decision to make on whether he goes that route or plays in the WHL.

“I’m very happy to be selected by the Blazers but right now it’s hard to say, I’ve got a big decision to make. That’s all I can say right now.”

In all the Blazers took nine players at the draft, including centre Connor Levis with the 20th overall pick.

He too is slated to play NCAA hockey with Michigan, but GM Matt Bardsley is confident that both players will end up being Kamloops Blazers.