Albin Nilsson Commits to Providence College

Albin Nilsson has committed to Providence College for the 2019-2020 season. A Swedish native, he is currently playing in the USHL for the Sioux City Musketeers. NZ scouts have noted Albin for his toughness and his ability to see the ice well.  

Albin tells us how he started playing, “My whole family is a hockey family actually, my dad played a lot of years in Sweden, my brothers played, and my mom has always been in the stands [supporting] us. I was born into a hockey family so it became [automatic] that I started to play too.” His favorite memories were, “When my family, during winter time, use to skate on the lake outside our house. Special memories that we still do today. . . and to play for my hometown team was something special.”

Before landing on his decision to attend Providence College next year Albin visited several other schools, including Bemidji State, Merrimack College, Ohio State, and Nebraska-Omaha. “The [recruiting] process has been very fun with a lot of travel[ing] to see new places. To go to all of those five places was something I wanted to do . . . to see as much as I [could] before I made a decision. I just wanted to find the best fit for me and to feel comfortable with my choice.”

Albin talks about making his decision, “The reason that I [chose] Providence was their belief in me; the coaching staff, the school, and everything around. I got a really good feeling and it felt like this is home for me. . . it was just the best fit for me. My family is a huge support [system] for me, so they [were] really happy and proud of me.”

This is Albin’s first year playing in North America, he talks about the move, “I think the transition has been tough but fun, to be away from my family and to adjust to something new is harder than I thought, but I really like it at the same time. It’s always fun to experience something new and to learn new things. Hockey wise it’s tough but fun too. In Europe and Sweden we have Olympic size rinks and it has been tough to play on the small rinks. But at the same time I really like it because everything goes so much faster and you have to be awake all the time. The USHL is also a really good league and it’s really fun to play against good teams every week.”

With countries like Sweden doing a good job of retaining some of their top talent, we asked Albin what his motivation was to come overseas to play in the USHL. “I wanted to play in the USHL because, first of all, it is a good league and of course to play college hockey next year. I also wanted. . . a new challenge and an adventure in my life. I’ve always lived and played hockey in Sweden and I wanted to [go on] an adventure [that would] develop me both as a hockey player and as a person. When I got the chance to come over and play for Sioux City it was not a hard decision to make.”

For Albin college hockey has been his focus even before coming to the United States. “College hockey has always been on my mind since I was really young. I’ve always wanted to combine education and really good hockey at the same time. And to get 4 more years to develop both as a hockey player and a person gives me a [better] chance to play pro hockey later in my hockey career and an education that I can stand on after my career.” Talking about life after hockey, “. . . at the moment hockey is everything for me but as many people know you can’t be a hockey player all your life, and that’s why. . . education is a big part of [why] I want to play college hockey. I want to have something to stand on after my hockey career, to combine studying and really good hockey is something that I’m really looking forward to.” Albin wants to pursue a major in the field of business.

We asked Albin about any adversity he has faced and how he keeps moving forward through tough times.As a hockey player you face tough challenges everyday, but I would probably say the injuries [are the hardest]. I have had some injuries and that’s a really tough challenge, all you want to do is to play and help your team. Many people [have] give[n] me good advice but the one I try to [follow] every day is [something] my family use to say to me, ‘A happy Albin, is a good Albin.’ I try to be the best me every day and if you are happy everything gets so much easier.”

He will enroll at Providence in the fall and is currently off to a nice start in his USHL rookie season with 3 assists in 13 games.

 

Photo credit: Hickling Images