NORTH ANDOVER — Last spring, Max Lundgren’s end-of-year meeting with head coach Scott Borek was brief and blunt. Lundgren, a 6-foot-5 Swedish goaltender, had zero interest in splitting time in 2025-26—not even a token 75-25 split. He wanted nearly every minute in net, or he’d probably hit the transfer portal.
That kind of demand can ruffle feathers. But Borek already knew what he had: a big, athletic goalie with legitimate No. 1 potential. Never mind last winter’s unspectacular stats—a 7-10 record, a 2.73 goals-against average. Borek had seen enough to trust him.
The team in front of Lundgren was decent, hinting at something better—they let in more than three goals only twice in the final 14 games.
Even after sitting out 2022-23 for eligibility issues back in Sweden, Lundgren was itching to prove himself.
“I wanted to show everyone—including the pro scouts—that I could handle it all,” Lundgren says. “Coach Borek gave me that shot.”
Sort of. Borek’s message was clear: earn it, and it’s yours.
“Honestly, I figured he would,” Borek admits. “I always thought he had the ability to be one of the best goalies in the country.”
Lundgren delivered. He’s the hottest name in college hockey right now.
It’s been years since this region saw a goalie standing on his head at TD Garden, stopping everything in sight. Last time, it was Tim Thomas winning the Conn Smythe for the Bruins.
This month, it was Lundgren—outdueling Providence in OT, shutting out UMass Amherst and their star goalie Michael Hrabal, then stopping 49 of 50 shots to lead Merrimack past UConn.
“I’m seeing the puck great,” Lundgren says. “But it’s not just me. Our defense is blocking more shots than anyone. This team is better than people think.”
Coach Borek keeps talking up the family atmosphere, especially these last two months. For Lundgren, who’s 3,600 miles from his mom and brother in Ängelholm, Sweden, that’s not just talk.
His girlfriend, senior soccer player Caleigh Christensen, and her parents have remarkably been fixtures at most of his games this year, home and away. But the real bond is with his teammates.
“I know every team says they’re close, but it’s true for us. Off the ice, we’re a family. On the ice, it shows—we have each other’s backs.”
His mom, Pernilla Lundgren, saw it up close. She traveled here two weeks ago, catching Merrimack’s upset of top-seeded Providence. She decided to lengthen the trip to see, what was, a historic run at TD Garden.
“Having her here was awesome,” Lundgren says. “We’re all close. Family matters.”
Lundgren earned his college shot after a standout season with the Des Moines Buccaneers—41 games, 19 wins, 2.65 goals-against, facing over 30 shots a game. This year? He led the nation in both saves (1,109) and minutes played (2,275).
“I’m used to facing a lot of rubber,” Lundgren jokes. “Whatever it takes. Keeps you sharp.”
He got what he wanted—minutes, saves, pressure—and he was ready.
“It started last summer. If I was going to ask for this, I had to prepare. A lot of work in the gym. A lot of running.”
He credits team trainer Derek Lauteri for keeping his body patched together, especially his back, with endless hot and cold packs.
A former soccer goalie back home, diving is a trait he’s always had in his repertoire, and he dove a few times trying to save pucks in the Hockey East semis and finals.
“That definitely comes from my soccer days,” said Lundgren. “It sometimes gets me in trouble in hockey. My goal is to cover as much net as possible with my body and athleticism.”
And if Merrimack needed another edge, they’ve found it: no one from their roster made any of the top three Hockey East teams, even with three forwards—Parker Lalonde, Justin Gill, Trevor Hoskin—finishing in the league’s top seven for scoring.
But it appears Merrimack, with Lundgren leading the way, have bigger fish to fry than all-star teams.
“That stuff doesn’t matter,” Lundgren shrugs. “We believe in ourselves. We have a tough game on Thursday night. We just want to win.”
With Lundgren playing like he has of late, Merrimack doesn’t only have a fighter’s chance to shock a lot of people this weekend, but a legitimate chance.
You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.