Lars-Erik Sjöberg

Lars-Erik Sjöberg, (b. May 4, 1944, in Falun, Sweden, d. October 20, 1987 in Uppsala, Sweden), was a Swedish ice hockey defenceman. He played in Sweden from 1962 to 1974 (Leksands IF 1962-65; 1967-69, Djurgårdens IF Hockey 1965-67, and Västra Frölunda IF 1969-74); and in North America for the Winnipeg Jets in the WHA and NHL from 1974-80.

Sjöberg won the Golden Puck as the Swedish player of the Year in 1968-69 and was named best defenceman at the 1974 IIHF World Championships. [ [http://www.hockeycanada.ca/5/0/5/1/index1.shtml Iihf Directorate Awards And Most Valuable Player ] ] He was the first non-North American born and raised captain in the NHL, wearing the "C" for the Winnipeg Jets during their first season in the NHL. On the Jets he was nicknamed "The Professor" and "The Little General." He captained the Swedish National Team at the 1976 Canada Cup. [http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=14334]

Sjoberg was working as a scout for the New York Rangers when he died of cancer in 1987. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEEDB153BF932A15753C1A961948260 LARS-ERIK SJOBERG - New York Times ] ] To honour him the Rangers each year gives out the Lars-Erik Sjöberg Award to the best rookie in the training camp. [cite web | publisher = New York Rangers | url = http://rangers.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=tra_awa_sjoberg | title = Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award | accessdate = 2007-12-05 ]

Awards & Achievements

*Swedish Player of the Year (1969)
*World Championship Silver Medalist (1973)
*World Championship All-Star Team (1974)
*Named Best Defenseman at World Championship (1974)
*World Championship Bronze Medalist (1974)
*Played in the Canada Cup (1976)
*Avco Cup (WHA) Championships (1976, 1978, & 1979)
*WHA First All-Star Team (1978)
*Dennis A. Murphy Trophy Winner (1978)
*“Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.

ee also

*List of ice hockey players who died young

External links

*Hockeydb|4988
*legendsofhockey|14334
* [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/players.html?category=8&id=38 Lars-Eric Sjoberg's biography] at [http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/index.html Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame]

References