PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Henrik Lundqvist will go down in history as one of the greatest in the New York Rangers.
But the question is who is the greatest if you ask “King Henrik” himself.
There is a given answer when the star Swede reveals his very first hockey idol.
After a full 15 seasons and over 1,000 games for the New York Rangers, he was forced Henrik Lundqvist put the goalkeeper pick on the shelf last summer. He truly deserved the nickname “King Henrik” and is considered one of the classic NHL team’s greatest of all time.
Henke’s idol
The Swedish star goalkeeper also got a dignified farewell when earlier this year he had to see his jersey hoisted into the ceiling at Madison Square Garden. With that, his jersey number 30 was also retired and may not be worn by anyone else in the New York Rangers.
Lundqvist was a crowd favorite for a long time and a big idol for the younger Rangers fans. When he himself is asked who is his biggest idol from childhood, the answer is given.
“Fantastic”
But the Three Crowns hero actually knocks out all NHL goalies in world history – instead he chooses a favorite who never reached the world’s best hockey league. Because in an interview with ESPN, “Henke” has revealed that his very first hockey idol as a small child was the icon Peter “Pekka” Lindmark.
– He was the first one I saw on TV. I watched a game at dad’s work because we didn’t have the channel at home that showed the hockey World Cup back then. He was a fantastic goalkeeper and a great personality, he admits in the interview.
Tre Kronor’s former great goalkeeper Lindmark won double World Cup gold and was named the world’s best goalkeeper twice during his career. But he never left Sweden to try his luck in North America.
Roy & Hasek
Instead, the northerner represented the Swedish clubs Timrå, Färjestad and Malmö during his goalkeeping career. In total, 4 SM golds were won at home in Sweden.
As Lundqvist got older, he also opened his eyes to great goalkeepers such as Patrick Roy and Dominik Hasek. Two legends that he also wants to highlight as great sources of inspiration for his own hockey career.
But the very first idol was still Pekka Lindmark. One of Swedish hockey’s truly great goalkeepers of all time, along with Henrik Lundqvist himself.
Do you also think that the legendary Pekka Lindmark is worth celebrating? Share the article if you agree!
READ MORE: Henrik Lundqvist’s brand new job in the NHL is revealed here – with a crazy tribute video: “This is home”