PERSONAL
Mattias is single and lives in downtown Vancouver...Likes to listen to the music of
Bruce Springsteen...Names all-star defenceman Borje Salming as his boyhood
idol...Favourite hockey memory was winning the Swedish League title in 1995-96
season for the first time in the club's history...Favourite television show is
Seinfeld...Has an older sister named Veronica... 

1996-97 Season
 Third among team defensemen in scoring for Lulea (Swedish Elite League) with 7-9--16 in 47
 games.

 The Finesse Game
 Ohlund has a high skill level and a big body to go with it. Because he is such a wonderful skater, and has a long reach, he is difficult to beat one-on-one. He isn't fooled by dekes, either. He plays the crest and maintains his position. Ohlund makes a good first pass out of the defensive zone, like Kjell Samuelsson, but his skating and puckhandling skills are better than Samuelsson's. He gets involved in the attack by moving up into the rush, but he won't get caught deep very often. Ohlund just keeps growing, but unlike many young skaters who experience sudden growth spurts, he has stayed balanced in his skating. He was a regular in the Swedish Elite League at age 19.

 The Physical Game
 Ohlund is big and powerful, and at least at the international level has played a physical game, clearing out the front of the net and working the boards and corners. The young Swede will probably be more of a finesse defenseman at the NHL level; at least the Canucks aren't expecting him to batter people.

 The Intangibles 
Ohlund won't get any better playing in Sweden. The time has come for him to step up into the pros. He might need some seasoning at the minor league level first, but odds are he will be thrown into the mix with the big boys.