Stefan Liv facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stefan Liv |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Stefan Liv following HV71 winning the Swedish National Championship in April 2010
|
|||
| Born | 21 December 1980 Gdynia, Poland |
||
| Died | 7 September 2011 (aged 30) Yaroslavl, Russia |
||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | HV71 Grand Rapids Griffins Toledo Storm Sibir Novosibirsk Lokomotiv Yaroslavl |
||
| National team |  Sweden |
||
| NHL Draft | 102nd overall, 2000 Detroit Red Wings |
||
| Playing career | 1999–2011 | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Sweden |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 2006 Turin | |
| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2006 Latvia | |
| Silver | 2004 Czech Republic | |
| Bronze | 2002 Sweden | |
| Bronze | 2009 Switzerland | |
| Elitserien | ||
| Gold | 2004 | |
| Gold | 2008 | |
| Gold | 2010 | |
| Silver | 2009 | |
Stefan Daniel Patryk Liv (born Patryk Śliż; 21 December 1980 – 7 September 2011) was a professional ice hockey player from Sweden. He was a talented goaltender, which is the player who defends the goal. Stefan Liv played for teams in Sweden, North America, and Russia during his career.
He played for HV71 in Sweden's top league for nine seasons. In 2000, the Detroit Red Wings picked him in the NHL draft. He played one season in their system but never played in the NHL. After that, he went back to Europe and played for HV71 again. In 2010, he moved to Russia to play.
Stefan Liv was playing for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) when he sadly passed away. He was with his team when their plane crashed in 2011. Stefan was also a key player for the Swedish national team. He helped them win the gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics. To honor him, a street in Jönköping, Sweden, was named "Stefan Livs gata" (Stefan Liv's street) in 2013.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Stefan Liv was born in Gdynia, Poland, and his birth name was Patryk Śliż. When he was about two years old, he was adopted by a Swedish family. He kept his original first name, Patryk, as one of his middle names.
Stefan Liv's Hockey Journey
Stefan Liv was known as a strong goaltender for HC Sibir and often played for the Swedish national team. In 2005, he was chosen as the third goalie for Team Sweden at the 2006 Winter Olympics. He was very quick and good at stopping close-range shots. His unique style reminded some people of famous goalie Dominik Hašek.
Liv played his first game in Sweden's top league, Elitserien, on January 18, 2000. He played for HV71 in Jönköping. His first game for the national team was against the Czech Republic in November 2000. In the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, the Detroit Red Wings chose him as the 102nd player overall.
In May 2006, Liv signed a one-year deal with the Red Wings. He started the 2006–07 season playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the American Hockey League (AHL). He was called up to the Red Wings in November 2006. Later, he also played a few games for the Toledo Storm in the ECHL.
After one season in North America, Liv returned to his old Swedish club, HV71. He signed a three-year contract with them. In the 2007–08 season, he helped HV71 win the Swedish Championship. He also won the Guldpucken award, which is given to the best player in the Elitserien. During the 2009–10 season, Liv played for HV71 again. He was chosen for Sweden's Olympic team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In 2010–11, Liv played for Sibir Novosibirsk in the KHL. He was even selected for the 2011 KHL All-Star Game. For the 2011–12 season, Liv moved to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
A Tragic Loss
On September 7, 2011, Stefan Liv passed away in a plane crash near Yaroslavl, Russia. The plane was carrying almost the entire Lokomotiv team, including coaches and young players. They were traveling to play their first game of the season.
After this sad event, ice hockey games in Sweden's top league began with a moment of silence. To honor Stefan, his No. 1 jersey was retired by HV71. It was hung from the ceiling of their home arena, Kinnarps Arena. For the rest of the 2011–12 season, all HV71 players wore the number 1 on the front of their jerseys. On September 10, 2011, over 10,000 HV71 fans gathered at the arena to remember Stefan Liv.
The Detroit Red Wings also honored Stefan Liv. In their first game of the 2011 season, each player wore a special patch. It honored Liv, Lokomotiv coach Brad McCrimmon, and defenseman Ruslan Salei. Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard also paid tribute to them on his mask. Liv and Howard had played together when Liv was with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Stefan Liv was buried at the Sofiakyrkan church in Jönköping on October 2, 2011. Many friends and family members attended the ceremony.
Since the 2012–13 season, the award for the best player in the Swedish Hockey League playoffs is called the Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy. This award keeps his memory alive. On August 2, 2013, a new street leading to Kinnarps Arena was named "Stefan Livs gata" (Stefan Liv's street). In 2013, Detroit Red Wings player Jonathan Ericsson named his daughter Liv in honor of Stefan, who was a close friend.
Awards and Achievements
Stefan Liv achieved many great things in his hockey career:
- Nominated for the Elitserien Rookie of the Year in 2001.
- Named to the Elitserien All-Star Game in 2002.
- Won a Bronze medal at the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2002.
- Awarded the Honken Trophy (Swedish Goaltender of the Year) in 2002.
- Won a Silver medal at the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2004.
- Won the Elitserien playoff with HV71 in 2004, 2008, and 2010.
- Won a Gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2006.
- Won a Gold medal at the Ice Hockey World Championship in 2006.
- Awarded Guldpucken (Swedish Player of the Year) in 2008.
- Named to the Swedish All-Star Team in 2008.
- Won a Silver medal in the Elitserien playoff with HV71 in 2009.
- Won a Bronze medal at the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2009.
Hockey Records
Stefan Liv also set some impressive records:
- Elitserien record for shutouts in playoffs (5) — four of these were during the finals.
- Elitserien record for career shutouts (37).
- HV71's club record for total minutes played (13,231).
- HV71's club record for shutouts in a season (6).
- HV71's club record for career GAA (2.17).
Images for kids
-
Liv playing for HV71, 2010.
See also
- List of ice hockey players who died during their playing career
