IHM Client Anton Thelander Signs With OKC Blazers
International Hockey Management is proud to announce that client, Anton Thelander, has signed with the Oklahoma City Blazers in the NA3HL. The 6’3, 209-pound left shot defenseman was born June 5, 2000. Last year, he split time between Tidaholms HF in Sweden’s HockeyTrean, and Borås HC’s J20 Elit team. The big defender is expected to be an impact player for the new OKC franchise.
Thelander was the top-scoring defenseman for Tidaholms HF, with a stat line of 29GP-7G-10A-17PTS-39PIMS. He also led the team in playoff scoring, with 3 Goals in 3 Games Played. Thelander was 6th in scoring among U20 defensemen in Division 3. He also led the Borås J20 team in Points-Per-Game for a defenseman, recording a stat line of 7GP-3G-3A-6PTS. The last two seasons, Thelander played for Skövde IK in J20 Elit. He also played one game for the A-Lag senior team in Division 1.
In 2019, the NA3HL had over 140+ college commitments, with almost 70% of those being NCAA commitments. In addition, over 300 former NA3HL players are currently playing in the NCAA, and 13% of NCAA Division III freshmen this season previously played in the NA3HL. While the NA3HL's primary goal is to move players onto college hockey, no other league of its kind has had more movement and advanced more players onto play in the NAHL than the NA3HL, which includes 40+ alumni currently on NAHL rosters.
Oklahoma City Blazers Head Coach & General Manager, Josh Berge, commented,
“With a limited amount of import spots on our roster, we are looking for players who can make an impact on and off the ice. We think Anton is that type of defenseman. He possesses good skill for a big player, and also plays a physical game that will translate well to North American junior hockey. We know Anton had some other options, so it’s a pleasure knowing he ultimately chose our organization. International Hockey Management, and Chris White, made our conversations simple and in the best interest of both our club and the player.”
Anton expressed positivity about his signing,
“IHM has been easy and very good to work with. They’ve done a great job for me, and helped me a lot. I’m very excited to go over to the US, and Oklahoma, to meet all the new guys and coaches. I'm really looking forward to playing junior hockey overseas, and winning a lot of games with OKC!"
International Hockey Management President, Chris White, added,
“Anton is the type of player that lots of teams want - a big, strong defenseman with offensive upside. I have known Head Coach Josh Berge for years, and I know he will not only provide a competitive, enjoyable environment for our client, but also prepare and develop him for the next level. OKC has big aspirations as a franchise, and we’re thrilled Anton will be a big part of creating a winning culture for the Blazers.”
CONGRATULATIONS, anton!
Follow along throughout Anton's final junior season with OKC at the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/okcblazers/
https://www.instagram.com/okcblazers/
https://twitter.com/okcblazers
Anton's Player Profile Page:
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/382416/anton-thelander
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https://www.facebook.com/intlhockeymgmt