Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist inducted into IIHF Hall of Fame: ‘Playing on international stage was always important to me’

Henrik Lundqvist was indicted into the IIHF Hall of Fame on Sunday. Fittingly for the New York Rangers legend, the ceremony took place in Lundqvist’s home country of Sweden.

One of the greatest goalies in NHL history, Lundqvist is sixth all-time – – and first among goalies born in Europe — with 459 wins, also a Rangers record. As such, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023.

This latest honor, though, was based more on Lundqvist’s brilliance in international play, representing Sweden for two decades.

“Playing on the international stage was always important to me,” Lundqvist said Sunday, wearing the Tre Kronor yellow jersey during his acceptance speech. “It’s hard to describe the feeling of what it’s like to put this on. It’s pride, excitement, and that feeling never changed for the next 20 years.

“Some of my best moments as an athlete, as a person I would say, have been wearing this jersey — winning world championships, the Olympics, such big moments.”

Lundqvist remembered being nine years old, seeing Avicii Arena — then brand-new and named The Globe — and how that influenced him to dream big.

“One day I want to play there, wear that blue and yellow jersey,” he recalled. “And the thought of playing for my country was such a big dream, the inspiration growing up that really pushed me in so many ways.”

Rangers great Henrik Lundqvist starred for Sweden on international stage

Lundqvist’s greatest moment on the international stage was helping Sweden win the gold medal at the 2006 Turin Olympics. He was 5-1 and allowed only 12 goals in those Olympics.

Lundqvist was only 23 at the time, a rookie with the Rangers in the NHL. Yet he shined on a loaded Sweden roster that included all-time greats Mats Sundin, Nicklas Lidstrom, Peter Forsberg, Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson and the Sedin twins.

“Winning in ’06, probably one of the best teams I ever played for,” Lundqvist explained. “A lot of my teammates on that team were my idols. And I always find that so special, where you have the opportunity to play with your heroes and you look around the locker room and it doesn’t feel real. You grew up watching them on TV and suddenly you have the chance to win something together.”

Lundqvist was also in net for Sweden when they captured the silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, bronze at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and medaled three times (one gold, two silver) at the World Hockey Championships

In 51 international games representing Sweden, Lundqvist was 36-14-1 with a 2.08 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and eight shutouts.

He was inducted Sunday into the IIHF Hall of Fame along with Zdeno Chara (Slovakia), Frans Nielsen (Denmark), David Vyborny (Czechia), Kim Martin-Hasson (Sweden), Vicky Sunohara (Canada) and Kai Hietaranta (Finland, builder’s category).

“Huge honor … like Chara, you said, You don’t win it, you earn it.”