Catching Up with Patrik Tallinder

[Patrik Tallinder 1,087]

Sweden's very own Patrik Tallinder made his name playing in the SuperElit at just 15 years old, where he was scouted by VHLM scouts and subsequently recruited into the VHL/M system. One Continental Cup, Mike Szatkowski Trophy, and Victory Cup later, Patrik finds himself in retirement back where it all started.

 

These days, the former Reign and Wrangler winger finds himself much less involved with the VHL. He was an assistant GM in Calgary for a few seasons, but ultimately stepped down to enjoy a nice retirement with his family. He still checks in with the VHL though; especially the Calgary Wranglers and his brother, Nils Tallinder, who plays center on the team. 

 

Patrik Talllinder has purchased a small home in Sweden that is home to himself, his wife and his newborn daughter, Maja. The house is about a 20 minute drive away from his hometown, Stockholm. It is a beautiful home with a very warm, comforting atmosphere. It is a one-story home with three bedrooms, and it is surrounded with trees that create a nice sense of privacy. The backyard includes an outdoor rink during the winters, where Patrik frequently has guests over to play pickup hockey for fun.

 

Life is much different for him now; His priorities used to be solely focused on improving his craft, and now he has his sights set on being the best father that he can be. Who knows what the future has in store - maybe he will guide Maja Tallinder to VHL superstardom many years down the line. Right now, he is just learning the ropes on how to be a father, but he would love to see Maja in skates when she gets old enough. Patrik was the first in his family to pursue hockey, so he never had the opportunity to enjoy hockey with his parents. He hopes to provide that for his daughter and for any other children that he may have in the future.

 

Patrik likes to catch up with old teammates whenever he travels, most often being Guy Sasakamoose. Given all the seasons they spent together from Mississauga to Riga, it would be difficult to not form a solid relationship in the way that they did. Phil Marleau, Kris Rice, Jimmy Spyro, Lincoln Tate, Apollo Hackett, Greg Eagles, and many more names are still in touch with Talli. He says that those lifelong friendships may just be the most gratifying part of his career, given how strong they still are after all this time.

 

While he is not the scouting wizard or gifted goal scorer that he once was, Patrik Tallinder finds himself just as happy out of the spotlight than he was when he was in it. He is proud of the footprint he left behind on the VHL, and the end of that chapter only served as a new beginning for the next. He has enjoyed retirement so far, being a father and a husband back home in Sweden.

 

Thank you all for tuning in for this update on the life of former VHL star Patrik Tallinder!