Henrik Lundqvist Opens Up About Representing Sweden Upon Receiving High Honor
On Sunday, Lundqvist was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame for his time playing for the Swedish National Team.
Since he was a tennager, Lundqvist has been representing Sweden on an international stage and he's widely considered to be one of the greatest Swedish goalies in NHL history.
To get this high honor means a lot to the 43-year-old who cherished every time he got to put on the yellow and blue jersey.
'One day I want to play there, wear that blue and yellow jersey,' Lundqvist said. '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.'
Lundqvist has won one gold and two silver medals in the IIHF World Championships, the Honken Trophy (the Swedish equivalent to the Vezina Trophy) three consecutive times from 2003-05, and a Guldpucken (Swedish MVP Trophy) during the 2004-05 campaign.
By the end of his illustrious career, Lundqvist had recorded 459 wins, the sixth most wins out of all goalies in NHL history and first among European goalies.
'Playing on the international stage was always important to me,' Lundqvist said. '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.'
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