Lindgren: 'Humbled by the opportunity' to head to Worlds

MONTREAL - Country music superstar Kenny Chesney will be minus one super fan in the audience when his Trip Around The Sun Tour stops in Minneapolis on May 5.

That's because Lakeville, MN native - and budding guitarist - Charlie Lindgren will be 4,000 miles away in Denmark at the 2018 IIHF World Hockey Championships representing the United States.
"It's going to be tough," said the 24-year-old goaltender with a laugh, on missing out on Chesney's lone summer show in the North Star State. "I was planning on seeing him. I don't know if he's playing anywhere close to Minnesota, but I'll have some friends that are going that'll probably send me some Snapchats. He just came out with a new song called 'Get Along', which is an absolute banger."

If there was one reason to miss out on his favorite artist's performance at U.S. Bank Stadium, though, sporting his country's colors for the very first time internationally would definitely be it.
"I feel super blessed. My brother, Ryan, grew up representing the U.S. for the last four years and now I get the chance to do that," said Lindgren, whose youngest sibling - a defenseman - claimed a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships at the Bell Centre, and a bronze medal this past January at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo. "To be able to wear the red, white and blue, it doesn't get much better than that."
The St. Cloud State University product was at home in Laval when he received the invite. His first call was to his parents, Bob and Jennifer, who were ecstatic to see their son rewarded for his efforts this season with both the AHL's Laval Rocket and the Canadiens.
"They shared that same excitement that I had," mentioned Lindgren, who unfortunately will be making the trek overseas alone as the tournament takes place at the peak time of year for the Lindgren's family business - Minnehaha Falls Nursery & Landscape. "It's going to be a little hectic with the time change, but I know they're going to do whatever they can to watch. I think they're going to be working some hectic hours at the garden store around then."
Having never been to Denmark before, Lindgren has already consulted with former college teammate Patrick Russell, who hails from Birkerod, which is located on the outskirts of Copenhagen, to learn more about the local culture.
This will actually mark Lindgren's first trip overseas since 2009 when he visited St. Petersburg, Russia to watch Ryan play.
"I'm chomping at the bit to get over to Denmark. It's going to be a really good team," said Lindgren, who will be plying his trade behind the likes of stars Patrick Kane, Dylan Larkin and Johnny Gaudreau. "It's the cream of the crop. It's going to be a challenge, but I know that I'm up to it. It'll be fun."

Lindgren and the American side - which is being helmed by Detroit Red Wings bench boss Jeff Blashill - will open the annual event on May 4 against Team Canada in the first of seven preliminary round games at Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning.
For the young netminder, this really is a dream come true.
"I envisioned it, but for some of these things to kind of come about now is really cool. You've got to kind of pinch yourself a little bit," concluded Lindgren. "I'm humbled by the opportunity to go over there and give it my all and have fun with it as well. I'll just enjoy meeting new people and playing with the best players in the game."