Pelle Lindbergh

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Goaltender
caught = Left
height_ft = 5
height_in = 9
weight_lb = 198
played_for = "NHL"
Philadelphia Flyers
"AHL"
Maine Mariners
Springfield Indians
nationality = SWE
birth_date = birth date|1959|5|24|mf=y
birth_place = Stockholm, SWE
death_date = death date and age|1985|11|11|1959|5|24|mf=y
death_place = Somerdale, NJ, U.S.
career_start = 1980
career_end = 1985
draft = 35^th overall
draft_year = 1979
draft_team = Philadelphia Flyers


image_size = 168px
nickname = Pelle
Tex
Gump

Göran Per-Eric "Pelle" Lindbergh (IPA2|'pɛlɛ ˈlindbærj, May 24, 1959 – November 11, 1985) was a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender who played parts of five seasons in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Playing career

Having gained fame while playing for local team Hammarby in his youth, and especially making his debut in the highest Swedish hockey league with AIK (Stockholm) leading him to the Swedish National Team in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, Lindbergh set his sights on the North American game. After being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft (2nd round, 35th overall), he started out his North American career during the 1980–81 season by playing a couple seasons for the Maine Mariners of the AHL before playing his first games for the Flyers in 1981–82. In 1982–83, he was named goalie of the NHL All-Rookie Team. He led the NHL with 40 victories during the 1984–85 season and won the Vezina Trophy, the first European goaltender to do so in NHL history. That same year, he was also named a First Team All-Star.

Death

On November 10, 1985, he drove his customized Porsche 930 Turbo into a wall in front of a Somerdale, NJ elementary school, fatally injuring himself and also injuring two others. Pelle died the next day, November 11th. The medical staff at the hospital kept him on life support until his father arrived from Sweden to say his final goodbye, signing the papers to end life support. At the time, he was returning from the Coliseum, the former practice center for the Flyers located in Voorhees, NJ. Law enforcement disclosed that he was intoxicated at the time of the accident, with a blood alcohol content level of .24%, well above .1% which was New Jersey's legal limit at the time. Lindbergh topped the fan voting for the 1986 NHL All-Star Game. It would mark the first time a player was chosen posthumously for an all-star team in a major North American team sport. Sean Taylor's selection to the 2008 Pro Bowl was the only other time this has happened. Though his number 31 was never officially retired by the Flyers, no Flyer has worn the number 31 since Lindbergh's death.

In 2006 a Swedish biography entitled "Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask" was written by Swedish author Thomas Tynander. As of 2008, an English version is under development.

Awards

*1980–81 Les Cunningham Award
*1980–81 Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award
*1980–81 Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award
*1982–83 NHL All-Rookie Team
*1984–85 Vezina Trophy
*1984–85 NHL First-Team All-Star
*1985–86 NHL All-Star Game (awarded posthumously)

The Philadelphia Flyers named an award, the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial, in his honor. Since 1993–94, it has been annually awarded to the most improved player on the team.

Career Statistics

Regular season

Post season

International Play

1980 - Played for Sweden in the XIII Olympic Winter Games

ee also

*List of ice hockey players who died young

External links

* [http://www.pellelindbergh.se Official biographical homepage]
* [http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/hero.cgi?hero_9_ Flyers History Bio]
* [http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/hm.cgi?013hm Pelle Lindbergh in Fatal Car Crash]
*legendsofhockey|18594
* [http://retire31pelle.tripod.com/ Pelle Lindbergh 31 Campaign]
* [http://web.telia.com/~u62006182/ Tribute to Pelle Lindbergh]