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• Swedish-born professional hockey player Mattias Öhlund plays defense for the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning.

  He previously played for the Vancouver Canucks before signing as a free agent with the Lightning on July 1, 2009.

• Fast Facts

  1. Birth date: September 6, 1976
  2. Birthplace: Pitea, Sweden
  3. Position: Defense
  4. Shot: Left
  5. Nicknames: Matty-O, Ollie
  6. 2007-2008 salary: $3.5 million
  7. Voted Canucks' top defenseman four times
  8. Nominated for the Calder Cup NHL rookie of the year trophy
  9. Won a gold medal with Team Sweden at the 2006 Winter Olympics

• Hockey Career

  Öhlund was drafted as the Canucks' first choice during the 1994 NHL entry draft, but was unable to agree on a contract with Vancouver for the next three seasons, so he remained a player hockey in his home country. Shortly before the 1997-1998 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs offered Öhlund a contract that the Canucks were forced to match if they wanted to maintain his rights. With contract negotiations settled, Öhlund joined the Canucks for the first game of the season and has been an integral member of the team's defense ever since.

  Near the close of the 2007-08 season, Öhlund scored his 87th goal to become the highest scoring defenseman in Canucks' history.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  National Hockey League | Vancouver Canucks | Daniel Sedin | Henrik Sedin | Bryan Smolinski | Kevin Bieksa | Taylor Pyatt | Matt Cooke | Brent Sopel | Jan Bulis | Lukas Krajicek | Jeff Cowan | Willie Mitchell | Alexandre Burrows | Josh Green | Rory Fitzpatrick | Marc Chouinard

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