Backlund Making the Most of Fresh Start

[RGM81]

Having seen & heard a little bit of this young man during his time with the Rockets, get ready to be excited Flames fans!

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...949/story.html

The way Mikael Backlund sees it, he was in danger of becoming stagnant.
After all, he had been born in Vasteras, a city of 100,000 in central Sweden. Had grown up there. Had played minor hockey there. Had played junior hockey there. Had played pro hockey there.
Then last season, after the Calgary Flames' main camp, he headed back for more.
"I went home with good self-confidence, but things just didn't work out," says Backlund. "I didn't play my best hockey. I couldn't motivate myself -- and I know it's not professional to not be able to do it. I felt I needed something new to get motivated and feel the fun part of hockey again."
Things, no surprise, went poorly on the ice.
Vasteras general manager Leif Rohlin became highly critical of the kid's play, making threats to cut him from the team. All this, he said publicly.
It was a heavy-handed power play.
The gambit soon backfired.
Because after the world junior championship in Ottawa, Backlund stayed in Canada, enjoying his debut with the Flames and finishing the 2008-09 campaign with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.

Read the rest at the link above.

[sholi2000]

My favourite part of the story.

"The NHL has always been my dream," says Backlund, "and that's where I want to play this season and the rest of my life. I'm dreaming and hoping that I make it this year."

He's so close!

[RGM81]

I know I'm going to be competing with other Flames fans for RCs this coming season!