Mats Näslund

Mats Näslund is regarded as one of Sweden's greatest hockey players of all timeArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceArticle in SportbladetRead the sourceClose. Speed and techniqueArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose were defining features of his game. Mats NäslundArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceArticle in Swedish Ice Hockey AssociationRead the sourceClose grew up in Timrå, with Timrå IK as his formative hockey club. In a January 2021Article in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose interview with Hockeysverige, he spoke about his father Torsten, who had played hockey for Wistavarvs and Wifsta-Östrand. His childhood idol was Lennart Lill-Strimma SvedbergArticle in DubbeltallenRead the sourceClose.

Alongside hockey in Timrå, Näslund studied constructionArticle in ByggnadsarbetarenRead the sourceClose. Interviewed by Byggnadsarbetaren in August 2017Article in ByggnadsarbetarenRead the sourceClose, he recalled building real houses with his classmates as early as their second school year.

In the same interview, Näslund described working on construction sites from seven in the morning until four in the afternoon, then going to training with TimråArticle in ByggnadsarbetarenRead the sourceClose. While playing for Brynäs, he recalled, his working hours fell to around 25–30 a weekArticle in ByggnadsarbetarenRead the sourceClose. In his 2021 Hockeysverige interview, he identified Lennart Tigern JohanssonArticle in HockeysverigeRead the sourceClose and Lennart Jansson as the people who had recruited him to Brynäs.

Näslund also spent several years working as team manager for Sweden’s national team, Tre KronorTre Kronor, or “Three Crowns”, is the nickname of Sweden’s senior men’s national ice hockey team.Article in Swedish Ice Hockey AssociationRead the sourceClose. In a November 2019Article in SHLRead the sourceClose interview with SHLSHLSHL, the Swedish Hockey League, is Sweden’s top men’s domestic ice hockey league.Close, he said he played golf and still skated once a week.