Home and Away

“Mats was a big, skilled center who was one of the best players of his era, a true Hall of Famer, but I’ll remember him as much for his class as for his talent on the ice. He was a consummate captain and leader. I’ll always remember lining up against him for the opening faceoff of my comeback game in Pittsburgh in 2000 – a special moment for me. It’s great that he’s chosen to tell his story.” — MARIO LEMIEUX“Mats is one of the best, most respected players and Captains to have ever played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. From the time I was fortunate enough to be drafted by the Leafs, he was talked about a lot and, given his Hall of Fame career and all he accomplished, is someone I admire.” — AUSTON MATTHEWS“Mats and I were close friends from day one and still are. Everyone knew I had his back on the ice. What people didn’t know was that Mats had my back off the ice, during a very difficult personal time. Mats is one of our giants of our game, like Mario Lemieux. Like Mario, Mats is also a man of few words, so it’s a treat to hear Mats tell his story after all these years.” — TIE DOMI“Mats is a Leafs legend, a hall of famer, and someone I look up to to this day.” — CONNOR MCDAVID“The no-brainer gift of the season… [for readers] with a passion for hockey”  — Global News“Mats Sundin was a great leader and captain that led the way on the ice and brought the team together. Mats would play his best hockey in important and deciding games. He was an incredibly skilled player who could win games by himself.” — NICKLAS LIDSTRÖM, Stanley Cup Champion, Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame

Mats Sundin is the longest-serving captain not born in North America in NHL history. He enjoyed a prolific eighteen-season NHL career as well as a superb international career playing for Sweden, his homeland. When he was selected by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, he became the first European-born player ever drafted first overall. The Nordiques traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the rest is hockey history. At the time of his retirement, Sundin stood as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ all-time franchise leader in goals and points. A quiet leader, the durable Sundin is regarded as one of the finest Swedes to have played in the National Hockey League, and one of the greatest Toronto Maple Leafs of all time. He lives in Sweden and visits Toronto often.

Amy Stuart is the author of four bestselling novels, including A Death at the Party. She is also the author of Still Mine, Still Water, and Still Here, which have been optioned for television by Lark/NBC Universal. Amy’s other love is hockey. She is one of only four women head coaches in the GTHL, the world’s largest youth competitive hockey league. She was born in Toronto, where she still lives with her husband and their three sons. They also spend much of their time on Prince Edward Island, where Amy’s family is originally from.