Ulf Sterner

Ulf Sterner has the distinction of being the first European-trained player to play a game in the National Hockey League (NHL). It happened on 27 January 1965, when he stepped on the ice at a New York Rangers-Boston Bruins game. But Sterner’s career in the NHL was short-lived, as he played for the Rangers in only four games, spending most of his stay in North America in 1964-65 playing with the Ranger’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Baltimore Clippers. Sterner started to play hockey with Forshaga IF in 1956 and stayed with them until 1961. From 1961-64, Sterner played with Västra Frölunda IF and after his stint in North America, played with Rögle BK (1965-67), Färjestad BK (1967-68, 1969-73), Västra Frölunda IF (1968-69), London Lions in Great Britain (1973-74), before finishing his career with Bäcken HC (1974-77) and Vänersborgs HC (1977-84). Sterner never won a Swedish title, but he won silver in 1962 and bronze in 1968 with Västra Frölunda and bronze in 1971 with Färjestad. He was also awarded the Goldpucken Award in 1963 as the best player at the Swedish Championship.

Internationally, Sterner earned 189 caps with the Swedish national team, scoring 91 goals. He played at two Olympic Games and nine World Championships. He won an Olympic silver in 1964, was a World Champion in 1962, won silvers at the 1963, 1967, 1969, 1970 and 1973 World Championships and won bronze at the 1971 World Championships. Sterner was named as the best forward at the 1969 World Championships and was selected to the all-star teams at the 1962 and 1969 World Championships. Sterner was also European champion in 1962, while taking silver at the 1963, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1970 and 1973 European Championships and bronzes at the 1960, 1961, 1965 and 1971 European Championships.

After finishing his sporting career, Sterner worked as an ice hockey coach, mostly in Germany with Bayreuth SV, EC Hedos München, and EV Füssen. Sterner was awarded the Stora Grabbars Märke (Big Boys’ Badge) #59 in ice hockey and was selected to the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2001.