Pelle Lindbergh

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Pellelindbergh.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Lindbergh with the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1980s

| birth_date = {{birth date|1959|05|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden

| death_date = {{death date and age|1985|11|11|1959|05|24|df=y}}

| death_place = Stratford, New Jersey, U.S.

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 158

| position = Goaltender

| catches = Left

| played_for = AIK IF
Philadelphia Flyers

| ntl_team = SWE

| draft = 35th overall

| draft_year = 1979

| draft_team = Philadelphia Flyers

| career_start = 1978

| career_end = 1985

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{flag|Sweden}} }}

}}

Göran Per-Eric "Pelle" Lindbergh ({{IPA|sv|ˈpɛ̌lːɛ ˈlɪ̌nːdbærj}};{{citation needed|reason=accent 2?|date=August 2018}} 24 May 1959 – 11 November 1985) was a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender who played five seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the first European-born goaltender to be drafted in the NHL Entry Draft and the first to achieve success in North America.

Lindbergh died at age 26 in a single-car accident five months after leading the Flyers to the 1985 Stanley Cup Finals and winning the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender.

Playing career

Having gained fame while playing for Hammarby in his youth, and while making his debut in the highest Swedish hockey league with AIK (Stockholm) leading him to the Swedish national team in the 1980 Winter Olympics, Lindbergh set his sights on the North American game. Lindbergh owns the distinction of being the goaltender on the only team that did not lose to the gold-medal-winning Team USA at the 1980 Olympics, as Team Sweden and Team USA played to a 2–2 tie in the first game of the tournament. Team Sweden would go on to win the bronze medal. After being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft (second round, 35th overall), he started his North American career during the 1980–81 season by playing one and a half seasons for the Maine Mariners of the American Hockey League (AHL) before playing his first games for the Flyers in 1982. In 1983, he was named goaltender of the NHL All-Rookie Team. He led the National Hockey League (NHL) with 40 wins, and games played with 65, he was second in both shutouts (2) and save percentage (.899), and was third in goals against average (3.02) during the 1984–85 season and won the Vezina Trophy, becoming the first European goaltender to do so in NHL history. That same year, he was also named a First Team All-Star. In his final game on 7 November 1985, he made 18 saves while leading the Philadelphia Flyers to a 6–2 win over the Chicago Black Hawks.{{cite web |last1=Yannis |first1=Alex |title=Lindbergh is critically injured |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/11/sports/lindbergh-is-critically-injured.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=24 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123052109/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/11/sports/lindbergh-is-critically-injured.html |archive-date=23 November 2017 |date=11 November 1985}}

Death

File:Pelle Lindbergh gravsten.jpg, Stockholm.]]

At 5:41 a.m. on 10 November 1985, Lindbergh lost control of his customized Porsche 930 Turbo and struck a wall in front of a Somerdale, New Jersey, elementary school, critically injuring himself and severely injuring his two passengers.{{cite news|title = Lindbergh organs removed; life support is switched off|date = 13 November 1985|last = Duvoisin|first = Marc|newspaper = The Philadelphia Inquirer|page = 1A, 16A}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FJFGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=njMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1380,1176629&dq=lindbergh+is+critically+injured+pelle&hl=en |title=Flyers' Pelle Lindbergh critically injured in crash | date = 11 November 1985 | newspaper = The Evening News | page = 10B | location = Newburgh-Beacon, NY | editor-first = Chris | editor-last = Egan | access-date=24 August 2013}} He was hospitalized in Stratford, New Jersey, and declared brain dead a few hours later. His parents gave permission to end life-saving measures, and at 9:15 a.m. on 11 November, he was declared legally dead after all brain function had ceased. His parents also agreed to organ donation, and so his heart was kept beating until 12 November, when his vital organs were harvested and prepared for transplantation.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MEnvDQAAQBAJ&q=mcneal&pg=PT549|title = Full Spectrum: The Complete History of the Philadelphia Flyers Hockey Club|isbn = 9781633198272|last1 = Greenberg|first1 = Jay|date = 29 November 2016| publisher=Triumph Books }}

At the time of the accident, he had just left the Coliseum, the former practice center for the Flyers located in Voorhees Township, New Jersey, where he was attending a team party. He was intoxicated at the time of the accident, with a blood alcohol level of 0.24, well above New Jersey's legal limit (0.10) at that time.

Lindbergh topped the fan voting for the 1986 NHL All-Star Game. It would mark the first time that a player was chosen posthumously for an all-star team in a major North American team sport. Sean Taylor's selection to the 2008 Pro Bowl was the only other time this has happened. Although his number 31 was never officially retired by the Flyers, no Flyer has worn the number 31 since Lindbergh's death.{{cite news | url = http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20101111_Pelle_Lindbergh_s_spirit_lives_on__25_years_after_fatal_crash.html | title = Pelle Lindbergh's spirit lives on, 25 years after fatal crash | last = Seravalli | first = Frank | work = Philadelphia Daily News | date = 11 November 2010 | access-date = 2 October 2014}} Lindbergh is buried in Skogskyrkogården, a cemetery in southern Stockholm.{{cite web|last=Meltzer|first=Bill|title=Pelle Lindbergh #31|url=http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/hero.cgi?hero_9_|work=flyershistory.com|access-date=11 November 2010}}

Pelle Circle, a residential street in Far Northeast Philadelphia, was named in his honor when it was constructed in 1986.

Swedish author Thomas Tynander wrote a biography, Pelle Lindbergh: bakom den vita masken, published in 2006.{{Cite book |title=Pelle Lindbergh: bakom den vita masken |lang=sv |trans-title=Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask |first=Thomas |last=Tynander |publisher=Sportförlaget |location=Västerås |year=2006 |isbn=9-1853-1945-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S2tGMwAACAAJ |access-date=2024-07-12 |url-access=limited |via=Google Books}} An English version, Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask, was translated by Bill Meltzer and published in 2009.{{Cite book |title=Pelle Lindbergh: Behind the White Mask |first=Thomas |last=Tynander |translator-first=Bill |translator-last=Meltzer |publisher=The Middle Atlantic Press |location=Willmington |year=2009 |isbn= 978-0-91-26-0801-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jyJZPgAACAAJ |access-date=2024-07-13 |url-access=limited |via=Google Books}}

Awards and achievements

Named best goaltender at the European Junior Championships in 1976, and 1977.
Selected to the WJC All-Star team in 1978.
Named best goaltender at the WJC in 1978.
Selected to the Swedish World All-Star team in 1979, 1980, and 1983.
Selected to the AHL first All-Star team in 1981.
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award winner in 1981 (shared with Robbie Moore).
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award winner in 1981.
Les Cunningham Award winner in 1981.
Selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1983.
Selected to the NHL first All-Star team in 1985.
Vezina Trophy winner in 1985.
Bobby Clarke Trophy winner in 1985.
Viking Award winner in 1983.
Played in 1983, 1985 NHL All-Star Games.
Selected to the 1986 NHL All-Star Game posthumously.{{cite news|title=Fans salute Pelle with one last start|last=Ross|first=Sherry|date=31 January 1986|newspaper=The Record|location=Hackensack, New Jersey|page=81|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92447172/phwa-1986/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Pelle a favorite with hockey fans (continued)|last=Ross|first=Sherry|date=31 January 1986|newspaper=The Record|location=Hackensack, New Jersey|page=85|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92446596/phwa-1986/}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=The fans have first choice|last=Konrad|first=Jim|date=3 February 1986|newspaper=The Record|location=Hackensack, New Jersey|page=45|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92447319/phwa-1986/}}{{free access}}
Swedish Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Philadelphia Flyers named a team award, the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy, in his honor. Since the 1993–94 season it has been annually awarded to the most improved player on the team.

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:75%;"

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! align="center" colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"|

! align="center" rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"|

! align="center" colspan="9" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" |Regular season

! align="center" rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"|

! align="center" colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"|Playoffs

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! W

! L

! T

! MIN

! GA

! SO

! GAA

! SV%

! GP

! W

! L

! MIN

! GA

! SO

! GAA

! SV%

1977–78

| Hammarby IF

| Swe-2

| 36

| —

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1978–79

| Hammarby IF

| Swe-2

| 35

| —

ALIGN="center"

| 1978–79

| AIK IF

| SEL

| 6

| —

| 360

| 38

| 0

| 6.33

| —

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1979–80

| AIK IF

| SEL

| 32

| —

| 1,866

| 106

| 1

| 3.41

| —

ALIGN="center"

| 1980–81

| Maine Mariners

| AHL

| 51

| 31

| 14

| 5

| 3,035

| 165

| 1

| 3.26

| .893

| 20

| 10

| 7

| 1,120

| 66

| 0

| 3.54

| —

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1981–82

| Maine Mariners

| AHL

| 25

| 17

| 7

| 2

| 1,505

| 83

| 0

| 3.31

| .887

| —

ALIGN="center"

| {{nhly|1981}}

| Philadelphia Flyers

| NHL

| 8

| 2

| 4

| 2

| 480

| 35

| 0

| 4.38

| .881

| —

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| {{nhly|1982}}

| Philadelphia Flyers

| NHL

| 40

| 23

| 13

| 3

| 2,333

| 116

| 3

| 2.98

| .891

| 3

| 0

| 3

| 180

| 18

| 0

| 6.00

| .788

ALIGN="center"

| {{nhly|1983}}

| Philadelphia Flyers

| NHL

| 36

| 16

| 13

| 3

| 1,999

| 135

| 1

| 4.05

| .860

| 2

| 0

| 1

| 26

| 3

| 0

| 6.92

| .769

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1983–84

| Springfield Indians

| AHL

| 4

| 0

| 240

| 12

| 0

| 3.00

| —

ALIGN="center"

| {{nhly|1984}}

| Philadelphia Flyers

| NHL

| 65

| 40

| 17

| 7

| 3,858

| 194

| 2

| 3.02

| .899

| 18

| 12

| 6

| 1,008

| 42

| 3

| 2.50

| .914

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| {{nhly|1985}}

| Philadelphia Flyers

| NHL

| 8

| 6

| 2

| 0

| 480

| 23

| 1

| 2.88

| .884

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan=3 | NHL totals

! 157

! 87

! 49

! 15

! 9,150

! 503

! 7

! 3.30

! .886

! 23

! 12

! 10

! 1,214

! 63

! 3

! 3.11

! .911

=International=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! W

! L

! T

! MIN

! GA

! SO

! GAA

1976

| Sweden

| EJC

| 3

| —

| 180

| 4

| 0

| 1.33

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1977

| Sweden

| EJC

| 3

| —

| 180

| 3

| 0

| 1.00

1978

| Sweden

| WJC

| 4

| —

| 240

| 10

| 0

| 2.50

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1979

| Sweden

| WC

| 6

| 1

| 4

| 1

| 360

| 38

| 0

| 6.33

1980

| Sweden

| OG

| 5

| 2

| 1

| 2

| 300

| 18

| 0

| 3.60

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1981

| Sweden

| CC

| 2

| 0

| 92

| 9

| 0

| 5.87

1983

| Sweden

| WC

| 9

| 4

| 1

| 540

| 27

| 0

| 3.00

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3"|Junior totals

! 10

! —

! 600

! 17

! 0

! 1.70

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3"|Senior totals

! 22

! 7

! 9

! 4

! 1292

! 92

! 0

! 4.27

References

External links

{{Ice hockey stats}}
[http://www.flyershistory.com/cgi-bin/hero.cgi?hero_9_ Flyers History Bio]
[http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=436242 Spectrum Memories: Lindbergh Memorial at Philadelphiaflyers.com]
[http://www.flyershistory.net/cgi-bin/hm.cgi?013hm Pelle Lindbergh in Fatal Car Crash]

{{succession box | before = first recipient | title = Winner of the Bobby Clarke Trophy| years = 1985 | after = Mark Howe}}

{{succession box | before = Tom Barrasso | title = Winner of the Vezina Trophy | years = 1985 | after = John Vanbiesbrouck }}

Category:1959 births

Category:1985 deaths

Category:AIK IF players

Category:Alcohol-related deaths in New Jersey

Category:Burials at Skogskyrkogården

Category:Hammarby Hockey (1921–2008) players

Category:Ice hockey people from Stockholm

Category:Ice hockey players at the 1980 Winter Olympics

Category:Maine Mariners (AHL) players

Category:Medalists at the 1980 Winter Olympics