Virtua Hockey Alum Mattias Samuelsson did not have to wait long to hear his name on Saturday of the NHL Draft. With the 1st pick in the 2nd round of the NHL Draft (32nd overall), Mattias was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres. Mattias is the second highest NHL draft pick in the history of the Virtua Hockey (formerly Team Comcast) program.

Mattias spent the last two seasons playing for the United States National Team Development Program. Highlights from his time with the USNTDP include a silver medal at the 2018 World Junior Championships and a Gold Medal at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games.

Before playing for United States National Team Development Program, Mattias spent many years playing for the Team Comcast program. During his time with Team Comcast, he also played for the Philadelphia Flyers Quebec Peewee team, where he played in a thrilling overtime victory game against the Buffalo Sabres team.  (Playing for the Sabres that day was Joel Farabee, who was drafted 14th overall this year in the NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers).

Mattias is also the son of former Philadelphia Flyers defensemen Kjell Samuelsson, who currently serves as a player development coach with the Flyers.

This Fall, Mattias will be attending Western Michigan University.

Congrats to Mattias on all of your success so far and best of luck as your hockey career continues!