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Pelle Lindbergh
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Per-Eric "Pelle" Lindbergh (May 24, 1959 – November 10, 1985) was a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender who played parts of five seasons in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Playing career
Having gained fame while playing for local team Hammarby in his youth and for the Swedish National Team in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, Lindbergh set his sights on the North American game. After being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft (2nd round, 35th overall), he started out his North American career during the 1980-81 season by playing a couple seasons for the Maine Mariners of the AHL before playing his first games for the Flyers in 1981-82. In 1982-83, he was named goalie of the NHL All-Rookie Team. He led the NHL with 40 victories during the 1984-85 season and won the Vezina Trophy, the first European goaltender to do so in NHL history. That same year, he was also named a First Team All-Star.
On November 10, 1985, he drove his customized Porsche 930 Turbo into a wall in front of a Somerdale, NJ elementary school, fatally injuring himself and injuring two others. Pelle died the next day, November 11th at the age of only 26. The medical staff at the hospital kept him on life support until his father arrived from Sweden to say his final goodbye, signing the papers to end life support. At the time, he was returning from the Coliseum, the former practice center for the Flyers located in Voorhees, NJ. Law enforcement disclosed that he was intoxicated at the time of the accident, with a blood alcohol content level of .24%, well above .1% which was New Jersey's legal limit at the time.
In 2006 a Swedish biography titled "Pelle Lindbergh; behind the white mask" was written by author Thomas Tynander. There are plans for an English version.
Awards
The Philadelphia Flyers named an award, the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial, in his honor. Since 1993-94, it has been annually awarded to the most improved player on the team.
Career Statistics
Regular season
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| Season
| Team
| League
| GP
| W
| L
| T
| MIN
| GA
| SO
| GAA
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| 1980-81
| Maine Mariners
| AHL
| 51
| 31
| 14
| 5
| 3035
| 165
| 1
| 3.23
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| 1981-82
| Maine Mariners
| AHL
| 25
| 17
| 7
| 2
| 1505
| 83
| 0
| 3.31
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| 1981-82
| Philadelphia Flyers
| NHL
| 8
| 2
| 4
| 2
| 480
| 35
| 0
| 4.38
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| 1982-83
| Philadelphia Flyers
| NHL
| 40
| 23
| 13
| 3
| 2333
| 116
| 3
| 2.98
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| 1983-84
| Springfield Indians
| AHL
| 4
| 4
| 0
| 0
| 240
| 12
| 0
| 3.00
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| 1983-84
| Philadelphia Flyers
| NHL
| 36
| 16
| 13
| 3
| 1999
| 135
| 1
| 4.05
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| 1984-85
| Philadelphia Flyers
| NHL
| 65
| 40
| 17
| 7
| 3858
| 194
| 2
| 3.02
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| 1985-86
| Philadelphia Flyers
| NHL
| 8
| 6
| 2
| 0
| 480
| 23
| 1
| 2.88
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| NHL CAREER TOTALS
| 157
| 87
| 49
| 15
| 9151
| 503
| 7
| 3.30
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| AHL CAREER TOTALS
| 80
| 52
| 21
| 7
| 4780
| 260
| 1
| 3.26
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Post season
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| Season
| Team
| League
| GP
| W
| L
| T
| MIN
| GA
| SO
| GAA
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| 1980-81
| Maine Mariners
| AHL
| 20
| 10
| 7
| 0
| 1120
| 66
| 0
| 3.54
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| 1982-83
| Philadelphia Flyers
| NHL
| 3
| 0
| 3
| 0
| 180
| 18
| 0
| 6.00
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| 1983-84
| Philadelphia Flyers
| NHL
| 2
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 26
| 3
| 0
| 6.92
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| 1984-85
| Philadelphia Flyers
| NHL
| 18
| 12
| 6
| 0
| 1008
| 42
| 3
| 2.50
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| NHL Totals
| 23
| 12
| 10
| 0
| 9151
| 63
| 3
| 3.11
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| AHL Totals
| 20
| 10
| 7
| 0
| 1120
| 66
| 0
| 3.54
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International Play
1980 - Played for Sweden in the XIII Olympic Winter Games
See also
External links
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Sweden
