Henrik Lundqvist Bio - Biography

Name Henrik Lundqvist
Height 6' 1"
Naionality Swedish
Date of Birth 2 March 1982
Place of Birth Åre, Jämtlands län, Sweden
Famous for
Henrik Lundqvist [`hɛn.rɪk `lɵnd.kvɪst] (born March 2, 1982) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy in each of his three seasons in the NHL, finishing third all three times. His dominating play during his rookie season resulted in the New York media and Rangers fans giving him the nickname "King Henrik".[1] During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, he led the Sweden national men`s ice hockey team to their second Olympic Gold Medal.

Before joining the Rangers, Lundqvist played for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Elitserien. During his years in Sweden, he developed into the league`s finest goaltender, winning the Honken Trophy three consecutive seasons; 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005 he also won two of the most prestigious awards in Swedish ice hockey, the Golden Puck and the Golden Helmet.

Lundqvist is considered a butterfly style goalie, though unorthodox due to the aggressive way he performs the butterfly.[2] He is best known for his sensational quickness, athleticism, and strong positional play

Early life

Henrik and identical twin brother Joel (a center with the Dallas Stars of the NHL) were born to Eva Johansson and Peter Lundqvist. They grew up in Åre, Jämtland, an area where alpine skiing is the most popular winter activity, but Henrik and Joel chose to play ice hockey over the more popular winter sports. During the winters their kindergarten teachers used the kindergarten`s 9 meters × 3 meters (30 ft × 10 ft) sandpit to freeze an outdoor ice rink where the twins would frequently skate. Their interest in hockey grew even larger when their father Peter took the twins to see Västra Frölunda HC play in Scandinavium, Gothenburg. Peter worked for a company who sponsored Frölunda, and Henrik and Joel saw many games in Scandinaium and Frölunda became their favourite team. In 1990 Henrik and Joel joined Järpens IF and started playing organized hockey for the first time. During one practice when the coach asked if anyone wanted to be a goaltender Joel grabbed and raised Henrik`s arm and said that his brother would like to. In 1993 the family moved to Båstad, Scania, in southern Sweden to support their older sister Gabriella`s tennis career. Henrik and Joel joined local team Rögle BK, and were both selected for Scania`s regional team in Sverigepucken in 1995. Henrik was selected to play for Scania in TV-pucken in 1996, and in 1997 when Joel was also selected. During the 1997–98 season Henrik and Joel were extensively scouted by Frölunda, and while playing for Rögle in the 1998 Scandinavium Cup in Gothenburg, Frölunda`s junior team manager and U16 coach Janne Karlsson contacted their father, who told Henrik and Joel about Frölunda`s interest in them while driving home to Båstad.

Henrik Lundqvist Photos