Cayden Lindstrom, Medicine Hat Tigers player, ready to represent Canada

The tournament is used to give the Under-20 national teams from Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden a first look at players to select for the World Junior tournament held this winter in Sweden.

Lindstrom said playing for Team Canada at the World Juniors is a goal he has set for himself talking with CHAT News on Thursday.

“You always dream of putting a Canadian jersey on and you watch the World Juniors growing up,” Lindstrom said.

“For me, I’ve always loved putting on the Canadian jerseys, whether it’s with U-17s, U-18s and hopefully I get to with the World Juniors,” he added.

“It’s always an honour putting the Maple Leaf over your chest and playing for your country and all the fans in Canada as well.”

Lindstrom is now living in Columbus in preparation of the Blue Jackets training camp in the fall and is determined to make the roster this year.

“I want to crack the lineup at 18 years old this coming season, and I want to play here in Columbus,” Lindstrom said.

“I’m going to do the best that I can this summer to make sure that happens.”

If that doesn’t materialize, he would return to the Tigers.

Lindstrom said playing with the Tigers has helped every bit of his game tremendously.

“Willie’s been a great coach for me for the past two seasons. He’s helped me gain my confidence as a player and as a person as well. Same with all the assistant coaches,” Lindstrom said.

“They’ve really helped me become a really strong, power-forward centreman with skill as well. Yeah, and just the whole team in general. All the guys have been great.”

When asked how a younger Cayden would feel about all he’s been able to accomplish, Lindstrom said he knows he would be pretty stoked.

“Just pursuing my dream from a little kid and even still now. I think he’d just be excited. There’s still a lot more work to be done and a lot more hard work from now on,” Lindstrom said.

Lindstrom said his family has played a big role in his career.

“All the sacrifices and risks they’ve taken to help me pursue this career and this dream of mine didn’t go unnoticed by me or anyone else,” Lindstrom said.

“They’ve just played a big role in my life for every single minute of it. Just a big, big factor.”

The experience so far with the Blue Jackets has been enjoyable for Lindstrom.

“It’s been fun, I’ve just been trying to take it all in for the whole draft process. But now I’m just starting to get to work or getting to work and improving my game,” Lindstrom said.

Lindstrom is happy to get passed the long time he spent off the ice and away from the Tigers last season due to injury.

“It wasn’t too good, obviously, not being with the guys and with the team,” Lindstrom said.

“But it’s what I have to do to get back to 100 per cent. I’m glad I got to go back for the last bit of the season with them and kind of go through playoffs with the guys,” he added.

“It didn’t go the way we wanted, but I was happy to go there and do the best that I can while still a bit injured in playoffs.”

If Lindstrom ends up back with the Tigers next season he’ll be happy with the team they have.

“We’re a pretty good team. We’re still really young and skilled, which is exciting, and you hear it all over the place how excited people are to watch our team play,” Lindstrom said.

“It’s definitely exciting coming up this next season for all the guys, really. We have a lot of 07’s, their draft year is coming up still. They’re going to be working as hard as they can, even though they do, no matter what,” he added.

“It just makes it even more exciting that we have all those young players and prospects coming up still.”

Lindstrom was proud of his three other fellow Tigers teammates Andrew Basha, Tomas Mrsic and Hunter St. Martin who also were selected in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

“I see the work they put in every day in the gym and on the ice. They deserve every bit of it,” Lindstrom said.

“They’re really good guys as well. Good in the locker room, good on the ice and everything.”

Lindstrom and Team Canada will be at the Summer Showcase in Windsor, Ont., and Plymouth, Mich., until Aug. 3.

by Jesse Gill

Cayden Lindstrom, Medicine Hat Tigers player, ready to represent Canada

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