Nils Nilsson

Nils Nilsson started to play hockey with Forshaga IF in 1952. In 1954, he moved to IK Göta, but played there only two seasons, before joining again with Forshaga, where he played until 1962. Nilsson finished his career with Leksands IF, playing with them from 1962-69. With Leksands, Nilsson won his only Swedish title, winning it in his last season as an active player. Nilsson was also awarded the Goldpucken Award in 1966 as the best player at the Swedish Championship, the Rinkens Riddare Award in 1967 as the most sportsmanlike player at the Swedish Championship, and was selected to the Swedish Championship all-star team in 1959, 1960, 1962, 1965 and 1967.

Nilsson was capped 205 times with the Swedish national team between 1954-67 and he scored 131 goals, which places him, as of 2013, second on the Swedish national team’s goals scoring list behind legendary Sven Tumba. Nilsson won an Olympic silver in 1964, was a World Champion in 1957 and 1962 and won silvers at the 1963 and 1967 World Championships and bronzes at the 1958 and 1965 World Championships. Nilsson was selected as the best forward of the 1960 Olympic tournament and was selected to the all-star team at the 1962 World Championships. He was also European champion in 1957 and 1962, won silver at the 1956, 1958, 1963, 1964 and 1967 European Championships and bronzes at the 1960 and 1965 European Championships.

He was awarded the Stora Grabbars Märke (Big Boys’ Badge) #49 in ice hockey and was selected to the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2002. Nilsson was also an accomplished football player, playing at the Swedish Championship with Djurgårdens IF, IK Göta and Karlstad BK, winning the Swedish title with Djurgårdens in 1959. After finishing his playing career, Nilsson worked as a product developer with Jofa, a Swedish manufacturer of sporting equipment.