Ulf Sterner

Ulf "Uffe" Sterner (born February 11, 1941) is a Swedish retired ice hockey forward. He played in nine IIHF World Championships for Sweden, where the team won seven medals: one gold, five silver, and one bronze. He was also a member of the silver medal team at the 1964 Winter Olympics. Sterner played for Forshaga IF from 1956–61, Västra Frölunda IF from 1961–64, and for the New York Rangers in 1964–65, before returning to Sweden to play for Rögle BK and Färjestads BK. He finished his career in England with the London Lions in 1973–74. On January 27, 1965, he became the first European-trained player to play in the National Hockey League (NHL).
==Playing career==
Sterner made his hockey debut at 15 when he was accepted onto a second division club where he made a name for himself with his speed and scoring ability. On November 12, 1959, he made his international debut with Tre Kronor in a friendly match against Czechoslovakia's team. He scored his first goal in that game, which Tre Kronor won 11-3. He was the team's youngest player of all time. Through the late 1950s and early 1960s, he was one of Sweden's most popular players. He is also credited with inventing the "stick to skate to stick" maneuver. At the 1962 World Ice Hockey Championships, Sterner scored what he described as his most memorable goal when he scored the 3–0 goal against Team Canada. His team won the game 5–3 and took the gold medal. At the 1963 World Championship, he scored a hat trick against Canada in a 4–1 win. After the game, he and teammate Tumba Johansson met King Gustaf VI Adolf and received a royal congratulations.
His first Olympics came in 1960 in Squaw Valley. The team did not earn a medal, but from that point on he was a dominating centre in international play. By 1963, the New York Rangers had taken interest, and in October, Sterner made the trip for training camp. The parties signed a five-game tryout agreement, but Sterner declined to play that season in order to conserve his amateur status for the 1964 Winter Olympics. The team won a silver medal. Sterner arrived for training camp in 1964 and displayed excellent skills. However, the NHL, unlike the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), permitted hitting and physical play on any point of the ice; international players were not allowed to hit in the offensive zone. Allowing him time to adjust to the North American game, the Rangers offered him a start with the St. Paul Rangers of the Central League, which he accepted. After two months, he adapted and earned a promotion to the Baltimore Clippers of the American Hockey League. Finally, on January 27, 1965, he joined the Rangers in a game against the Boston Bruins, becoming the first European-trained player to play in the NHL.
Ultimately, Sterner played only four games in the NHL, and he did not register a point. He had been reluctant to play physically or to instigate physical play. He was sent back down to the AHL, and it soon became clear that he was not going to return to the NHL. As much as his skills carried him through games in the AHL, he simply did not have the training to play 60-minute games with full contact. In 1969, the IIHF adopted the same body-checking rules as the NHL, and four years later, Börje Salming joined the Toronto Maple Leafs and played in the NHL for 17 years.
==Statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
  	  	  	 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1956–57	Forshaga IF 	Sweden 	 	7 	3 	0 	3 	– 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1957–58	Forshaga IF 	Sweden 	 	14 	2 	0 	2 	– 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1958–59	Forshaga IF 	Sweden 	 	11 	7 	8 	15 	– 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1959–60	Forshaga IF 	Sweden 	 	14 	17 	6 	23 	14 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1959–60	Forshaga IF 	Sweden 	 	13 	14 	8 	22 	2 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1961–62	Västra Frölunda IF	Sweden 	 	13 	12 	9 	21 	26 	 	7 	6 	4 	10 	5
1962–63	Västra Frölunda IF	Sweden 	 	14 	14 	6 	20 	6 	 	7 	7 	4 	11 	0
1963–64	Västra Frölunda IF	Sweden 	 	12 	10 	2 	12 	6 	 	7 	1 	4 	5 	10
1964–65	New York Rangers 	NHL 	 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1964–65	St. Paul Rangers 	CPHL 	 	16 	12 	9 	21 	2 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1964–65	Baltimore Clippers	AHL 	 	52 	18 	26 	44 	12 	 	5 	1 	0 	1 	2
1965–66	Rögle BK 	Sweden 	 	15 	32 	11 	43 	– 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1966–67	Rögle BK 	Sweden 	 	19 	4 	11 	15 	11 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1967–68	Färjestads BK 	Sweden 	 	21 	16 	8 	24 	19 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1968–69	Västra Frölunda IF	Sweden 	 	19 	19 	20 	39 	10 	 	7 	5 	7 	12 	2
1969–70	Färjestads BK 	Sweden 	 	17 	14 	22 	36 	– 	 	5 	3 	4 	7 	2
1970–71	Färjestads BK 	Sweden 	 	6 	4 	7 	11 	13 	 	14 	10 	3 	13 	14
1971–72	Färjestads BK 	Sweden 	 	14 	10 	15 	25 	28 	 	14 	5 	6 	11 	24
1972–73	Färjestads BK 	Sweden 	 	14 	7 	15 	22 	23 	 	14 	10 	2 	12 	29
1973–74	London Lions 	Britain 	 	34 	27 	88 	115 	71 	 	2 	0 	2 	2 	0
1974–75	Bäcken HC 	Sweden-3 	 	24 	14 	30 	44 	63 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1975–76	Bäcken HC 	Sweden-2 	 	22 	17 	23 	40 	31 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1976–77	Bäcken HC 	Sweden-2 	 	24 	14 	24 	38 	– 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1977–78	Vänersborgs HC 	Sweden-3 	 	15 	17 	16 	33 	– 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
1989–90	Hammarö HC 	Sweden-3 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
NHL Totals 	NHL Totals 	NHL Totals	 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	– 	– 	– 	– 	–
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
  	  	  	 	 	 	 	 	
Year 	Team 	Event 	 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
1960 	SWE 	OLY 	 	5 	0 	1 	1 	0
1961 	SWE 	WEC-A 	 	7 	5 	0 	5 	2
1962 	SWE 	WEC-A 	 	7 	9 	7 	16 	2
1963 	SWE 	WEC-A 	 	7 	7 	2 	9 	2
1964 	SWE 	OLY 	 	7 	6 	5 	11 	0
1966 	SWE 	WEC-A 	 	7 	4 	1 	5 	0
1967 	SWE 	WEC-A 	 	7 	2 	3 	5 	7
1969 	SWE 	WEC-A 	 	10	5 	9 	14 	8
1970 	SWE 	WEC-A 	 	10	1 	7 	8 	7
1971 	SWE 	WEC-A 	 	10	2 	2 	4 	2
1973 	SWE 	WEC-A 	 	9 	5 	2 	7 	6
OLY Totals 	OLY Totals 	OLY Totals 	 	11	6 	6 	12 	0
WEC-A Totals	WEC-A Totals	WEC-A Totals	 	74	40	33	73 	36
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===Coaching===
Team 	Year 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season
Team 	Year 	G 	W 	L 	T 	OTL 	Pts 	Win % 	Finish
Bayreuth SV 	1986–87	36 	21 	9 	6 	0 	48 	.667 	3<SUP>rd</SUP> in 2.Bundesliga South
Munich Hedos	1987–88	36 	25 	10 	1 	0 	51 	.708 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in 2.Bundesliga South
Fuessen EV 	1988–89	34 	14 	17 	5 	0 	33 	.458 	6<SUP>th</SUP> in 2.Bundesliga South
==Awards==
*Won the Golden Puck as Sweden's Player of the Year in 1962–63.
*Named the best forward at the IIHF World Championships in 1969.
*Inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2001.
*WEC-A All-Star Team (1962, 1969) 
==External links==
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*
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Category:Born in 1941
Category:Färjestads BK players
Category:Frölunda HC players
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:Rögle BK players
Category:Swedish ice hockey players
Category:1964 Olympian
Category:Hammarö HC players
Category:Vänersborg HC players
Category:Bäcken HC players
Category:London Lions players
Category:Baltimore Clippers players
Category:Forshaga IF players
Category:Retired in 1990
Category:Olympic ice hockey players of Sweden