While most of the attention during last night’s (Sunday) PG Cougars game against the Medicine Hat Tigers was centered around the Mega 50/50 Jackpot that reached over 160 grand, there was some northern flavour on the ice for the opposition.
Cayden Lindstrom of Chetwynd is off to a hot start for the Tigers collecting 15 points in 12 games – this includes 10 goals.
The 17-year-old power forward is a projected first-round pick for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and notched two goals in front of 20 friends and family during Medicine Hat’s 7-5 loss to the Cougars.
Lindstrom told MyPGNow.com it’s nice to come back to a place he spent a lot of time in as a youth.
“I played a lot in Prince George actually. Yeah, I had a lot of spring and summer hockey here and it feels almost like home I guess you could say.”
Medicine Hat is among the Eastern Conference’s elite to begin the 2023-24 regular season sporting a mark of 7-4-1-0.
Lindstrom added while the strong start is encouraging, he believes this year’s team has another gear in them.
“I think we can be a lot better than what we are now. I know that the standings say we are up there still but I think we still got way more to give.”
Standing at 6’4 and 215 pounds, pro scouts are salivating about Lindstrom’s evolving skill set and potential.
Lindstrom admits while the draft projections can be a bit flattering, improving on the ice remains the number one goal.
“I am always working on my game, even after practice and off the ice. Summers are huge so on and off the ice I have been working.”
“I run a lot of track so that helps my speed and agility.”
Tigers Head Coach Willie Desjardins stated Lindstrom has developed into quite the force over the past year.
“He’s really been pretty amazing. At the start of last year, we were healthy scratching him a little bit. Last year he played hard and took a really good step. This year, he came back a different player and in every game, he seems to be getting a little bit better. That means really good things for us and it shows a lot of really good things for him.”
“I think he is physically strong and a really good athlete. It shows when he is on the ice.”
Last season, Lindstrom tallied 42 points in 61 games – including 19 goals in his first full season with Medicine Hat.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
