By Joe Ewens
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Residence:
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Stockholm, Sweden
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Birthdate: |
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February 13, 1971
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Career Highlights: |
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First European player drafted 1st overall into the NHL
Scored over 500 career goals
Broke records for most points, minutes, goals, and assists by a Swedish player
Spent 11 seasons as the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Holds three IIHF World Championship gold medals from 1991, 1992, and 1998
Won an Olympic gold medal in 2006
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Affiliated Poker Room(s): |
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PokerStars
Read our
PokerStars.net review or pick up our exclusive
PokerStars Bonus Code
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Personal Website: |
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PokerStars.com/Mats-Sundin
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Products: |
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N/A
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Mats Sundin
Mats Sundin is widely regarded as one of the finest hockey players ever to have graced the ice. In Toronto he is a hero, having captained the city’s beloved Maple Leafs for eleven years. Although he never captured ultimate NHL glory, an unflinchingly superb offensive record marks him out as one of the most consistently excellent players the league has ever seen.
Sundin played over 70 games in every full length season in which he took part. He also recorded over 70 points in almost all of those campaigns. He led the Maple Leafs in points every year, excepting one, when he came second. Mats was the first Swedish player to record over 500 points and ended his career with 420 goals and 984 assists. In terms of statistics he ranks with some of the greatest players in the history of National Hockey League. Sundin currently sits 20th in all-time career goals and 25th in all-time career points.
The Stanley Cup eluded Mats for his entire career, but he achieved considerable team success on the international stage. Representing Sweden, he picked up three gold medals at the 1991, 1992, and 1998 IIHF World Championships. In the latter stages of his career, he captained his country at the Winter Olympic games in Turin. It was here that Sundin captured his most treasured accolade, an Olympic gold medal. This was only the second time Sweden had won gold since Ice Hockey entered the Olympic roster in 1920.
Mats entered the NHL in 1990, becoming the first European player to be drafted first overall. He was picked up by the Quebec Nordiques, where he stayed until 1994, when a multi-player trade brought him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This began a love affair with the city and its people that still continues today. After only two years on the team he was named captain, a post he would hold for over a decade. Torontonians are extremely passionate about their hockey and came to respect Mats for his consistency on the field of play and his classy attitude away from it.
It was off the ice that he began to cultivate another of his passions. While traveling around North America’s various cities, Mats began to play cards with players from his and opposing teams. He retired from hockey in 2009, but saw a chance to maintain that competitive spirit by signing on as one of Team PokerStars’ SportsStars. Along with the likes of tennis ace Boris Becker, Mats now regularly appears at major live tournaments and low-stakes online cash games. "Poker has always been a way of relaxing and for getting away from hockey in a way, while still staying in a competitive environment and being able to have a good time," he says.
Although he claims to be a novice, with his sportsman’s spirit, it might not be too long before we see the username ‘MatsSundin’ featuring in some of the higher level online games. “There are a lot of things [in poker] that are very similar to hockey," Mats has stated. If there’s any truth in that, then by all rights he ought to be a very good poker player. His love affair with the game extends beyond his regular post-match sessions. "My first time playing poker was probably when I was a young kid, you know, seven or eight years old. So it's been something that I've been enjoying doing my whole life."
With the support of PokerStars, Mats has recently been spotted a number of major European poker festivals. In October 2009 he entered the inaugural PokerStars Baltic Poker Festival, failing to cash. Mats made his most high profile poker appearance at the 2009 WSOP. The touring Stanley Cup made its way to the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, where a special hockey-themed tournament was arranged. Along with fellow hockey players and poker pros, Mats competed in a single table tournaments on some specially commissioned ice-colored felt. He was also present at that year’s EPT Barcelona.
Mats has pledged to give most, if not all, of his poker winnings to charity. He has yet to cash in a major tournament, but will take another shot at glory in the 2010 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure amfAR charity tournament. This $5,250 event has been created to benefit the amfAR foundation for Aids and HIV.
Common misspellings: Matt Sundin, Matts Sundin, Mat Sundin, Mats Undine, Mats Sundine
Learn more about Mats Sundin at PokerStars.
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